Figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that, in the last year, there have been 7,296 cases of benefit fraud detected among Britons living overseas in 157 different countries, who were wrongly claiming benefits such as pension credit, housing benefit and income support. Read more...
The Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) in West Devon is calling for more government support to help low-income families affected by benefit changes. Read more...
A couple who fraudulently claimed nearly £40,000 in benefits by setting up a false claim have escaped a jail term because their nine-year-old son has a heart condition and needs care. Read more...
Snaresbrook Crown Court has heard how a mother-of-five committed benefit fraud amounting to more than £76,000, after continuing to claim benefits after she got married without advising the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of her change in circumstances. Read more...
Figures from the government’s Office for Budget Responsibility have revealed that housing benefit is to cost taxpayers £1 billion more in the financial years to 2019, despite cuts introduced by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith. Read more...
Downing Street has announced proposals to tackle benefit fraud by removing luxury items like cars and computers or televisions from the homes of those found to be fraudulently claiming benefits. Read more...
New research commissioned by the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Wheatley Housing Group has found that changes to welfare benefits such as housing benefit has led to more tenants in social housing requiring help – and even emotional support – from frontline housing staff. Read more...
Benefits fraud has been very much in the news lately in the UK. Although it was hugely popular with audiences, the controversial Channel 4 series Benefits Street filmed in James Turner Street in Birmingham, attracted 1,800 complaints and is set to be investigated by Ofcom, the television regulator. Read more...
The EU has criticised the UK government’s plans to introduce a threshold minimum income before migrants can claim benefits – calling it “illegal”. Read more...
A housing benefit claimant found guilty of defrauding the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has been ordered to repay £5,900 in overpayments of housing benefit. Read more...
The government has announced a minimum income threshold before migrants become eligible for UK benefits, in a bid to allay fears among some sectors of the British public over “benefit tourism”. Read more...
A woman from Crawley, who illegitimately claimed in excess of £23,000 in housing benefits, has narrowly escaped a jail sentence after being given a community order and told to undertake unpaid work. Read more...
A 60-year-old woman who claimed she could barely walk has pleaded guilty to benefit fraud charges, after being spotted exercising at her local gym – and despite saying her doctor and physiotherapist had told her to take as much exercise as possible. Read more...
A benefits cheat from Cambridge has received a suspended jail sentence after illegitimately claiming council housing benefit despite building a substantial property portfolio in her hometown and Bulgaria. Read more...
A new benefits pilot scheme in six areas across the country will tackle benefit fraud and benefit overpayments. Read more...