Published August 27, 2019 at 10:16
A ‘small minority’ of people in Rossendale have been discovered committing benefit and council tax fraud.
The Council received 168 allegations of fraud from various sources such as anonymous referrals, the Council’s online fraud referral form, and the housing benefit and council tax processing team, in the last year.
This led to 97 cases being referred to the Department for Work and Pensions, with 64 further requests for information made. This led to more than £124,000 in overpayments being identified and requested.
Councillor Andrew Walmsley, Portfolio Holder for Resources, said:
This is obviously a very small minority of people who are committing fraud against the taxpayer, but we will take action where we need to.
As Council Tax Payers in the Borough fund services, any money lost to fraud means we have less money to spend on our services. We take this very seriously and we will investigate any breaches that we discover or are made aware of.”
If anyone wants to report fraud, whether it be about Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Single Person Discount, Council Tax Exemptions or Business Rates it can be reported by ringing the Council on 01706 252582 or reporting it via our website. www.rossendale.gov.uk/info/210157/your_council/10575/report_fraud_test
Filed under : Andrew Walmsley | Benefit fraud | Councillor