What we do

Nottingham City Council is committed to protecting public funds through its action on fraud. Out Benefits Investigation Team investigates allegations of fraudulent claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. We also work closely with the Department of Works and Pensions on related investigations into Income Support and Job Seekers Allowance & other Welfare Benefit related claims that may have been fraudulently made.

Our Team has specially trained & qualified staff who deal with investigations.  Any allegations made all are taken seriously. The offenders, when caught, could face criminal proceedings, as Benefit Fraud is a serious matter costing the taxpayer money and losing revenue due to the Council.

Do you know of anyone within the Nottingham City area who may be committing fraud?

The Benefit Investigation Team encourages referrals from the general public. To report a Benefit cheat please contact us using the details at the bottom of the page.  You can do this anonymously if you want to.

Our Prosecution Policy

Nottingham City Council will, wherever possible, work jointly with the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) Counter Fraud Investigation Service (CFIS).

In such cases, the combined overpayment from both DWP and the Council, will determine the sanction to be considered.

A policy is in place in line with current CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) guidelines to deal with the cases of Benefit fraud where the City Council believes there is enough evidence to sustain a prosecution. Each case is treated on its own merits and for lesser offences the Council has the option of offering the offender an Administrative Penalty or a Formal Local Authority Caution.

Types of Housing/Council Tax Benefit Fraud

• customer living with a partner whilst claiming to be living alone
• customer not telling us about other earnings/income
• not declaring capital/savings held
• not telling us about other adults over the age of 18 living at the property
• not declaring any other properties owned
• not living at an address but claiming housing benefit there

Help us to stop Benefit Fraud!

Do you know of someone who is claiming benefit that you think they are not entitled to? Please help us to stop people from cheating the Benefits system.

When you contact us, please give us as much information as possible such as:

• the person’s name
• their address
• details of anyone else involved
• descriptions; height, build, hair colour etc
• why you suspect fraud
• what you believe they are doing
• if you can, give employer details, their car registration and any other information

To Report a Benefit Cheat

Fill in our online form

or

Write to us at

The Benefit Fraud Section
City Finance Department
The Guildhall
Burton Street
Nottingham
NG1 2DE.

You can also phone our 24 hour confidential 'fraud hotline' on 0115 9155577

Or email at benefit.fraud@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Please remember - any information you give us is confidential and will remain so.  The person you report will not know who has reported them.  Only authorised people in the Benefits section will be able to see the information you give us.  

Your help will mean that the money recovered and saved will be used to improve local authority services which will benefit the community as a whole.