Examples of benefit fraud include:

  • Failing to report a change in your circumstances
  • Providing false information

If you're suspected of benefit fraud

If you are suspected of benefit fraud, you will be contacted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Defence Business Services, or your local authority.

Your benefits may be suspended during the investigation. You will receive a letter informing you if this happens.

Fraud Investigation Officers (FIOs) may visit you or ask you to attend an interview about your claim, known as an ‘interview under caution’. FIOs will collect information about your case and determine whether further action is necessary.

Attending an interview under caution

An ‘interview under caution’ is a formal interview that is often recorded and may become part of a criminal investigation against you.

Seek advice on your case, for instance from a legal adviser or solicitor. Citizens Advice can also provide support and information about ‘interviews under caution’.

Outcomes of a benefit fraud investigation

If you have committed or attempted fraud, the following may occur:

  • 1

    You will be required to repay the overpaid amount.

  • 2

    You may be prosecuted or asked to pay a penalty (ranging from £350 to £5000).

  • 3

    Your benefits may be reduced or stopped.

Losing benefits due to benefit fraud conviction

If convicted of benefit fraud, your benefits can be reduced or stopped for up to 3 years, depending on the number of times you have committed fraud. Only certain benefits can be reduced or stopped, known as ‘sanctionable benefits’. If you commit fraud on a non-sanctionable benefit, your other benefits may be reduced instead.

Elderly couple speaking with an advisor

Sanctionable benefits

The benefits that can be reduced or stopped if you commit benefit fraud include:

  1. Carer’s allowance
  2. Employment and support allowance
  3. Housing benefit
  4. Incapacity benefit
  5. Income support
  6. Industrial death benefit
  7. Industrial injuries disablement benefit
  8. Industrial injuries reduced earnings allowance
  9. Industrial injuries retirement allowance
  10. Industrial injuries unemployability supplement
  11. Jobseeker’s allowance
  12. Severe disablement allowance
  13. Pension credit
  14. Universal credit
  15. War disablement pension
  16. War widow’s pension
  17. War pension unemployability supplement
  18. War pension allowance for lower standard of occupation
  19. Widowed mother’s/parent’s allowance
  20. Working tax credit

Benefits that cannot be reduced or stopped

The benefits that cannot be reduced or stopped if you commit benefit fraud include:

  • Attendance allowance
  • Bereavement support payment
  • Child benefit
  • Child tax credit
  • Christmas bonus
  • Disability living allowance
  • Graduated retirement benefit
  • Guardian’s allowance
  • Industrial injuries constant attendance allowance (if a disablement pension is payable)
  • Industrial injuries exceptionally severe disablement allowance (if a disablement pension is payable)
  • Personal independence payment
  • State pension
  • Social fund payments
  • War pension constant attendance allowance
  • War pension exceptionally severe disablement allowance
  • War pension mobility supplement

Exceptions

If you commit benefit fraud and receive any of the following, none of your payments can be stopped or reduced:

  • Maternity allowance
  • Statutory adoption pay
  • Statutory maternity pay
  • Statutory paternity pay
  • Statutory sick pay

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