11 JULY 2007: - THOSE in receipt of benefits are one of the most vulnerable sectors of society, so any fraudulent activity is a particularly nasty crime.  In the last financial year, Harrogate Borough Council issued benefits totalling £25m.  Staff have also detected over forty cases of benefit fraud amounting to just over £100,000 which it has taken action to recover.

 

A recent benefit fraud Court case resulted in a custodial sentence for the claimant.

 

The council has a very good record in tackling fraud and has a range of systems in place to detect those taking advantage of the benefits system by misrepresenting their circumstances or failing to report changing circumstances.  The council has recently reinforced its processes to make sure that those genuinely making mistakes in their claims are helped to sort it out and it also now has a team of three officers who can make home visits.  However, it stands firm on its stance to prosecute those who wilfully make fraudulent claims.

 

Councillor Andrew Jones, Cabinet Member for Resources, says:  "The Government entrusts the council with huge amounts of money for us to pay out benefits.  We are very clear on our objectives.  We must do all we can to make sure that those who need benefit get it.  But we are also quite clear on fraud.  If people take money from the benefits system to which they are not entitled, they will be found out and we will take action through the Courts to recover the money.  We will continue to protect the public purse to make sure that all money available in the benefits system reaches those who are entitled to it."

 

Staff in the council's Benefits Service Fraud Section, are successfully using data monitoring powers under the Social Security Fraud Act to bring benefit cheats to Court.  All cases sent for prosecution have resulted in a conviction.

 

Members of the team can also 'require' employers, banks and building societies to provide financial information where it is considered to be justifiable as part of their investigations. 

 

The council has a 24-hour phone line to report benefit fraud, it treats all calls confidentially and will investigate in all cases.  The fraud hotline is 01423 55 64 66.

 

The council recognises that people's circumstances can change quite quickly which could result either in the amount of benefit not being enough or in some cases overpayments can occur which would have to be repaid.  The council urges all claimants to report any change to their circumstances no matter how large or small.  It is easy to do.  This can be done in person at Scottsdale House, Harrogate or any Housing Management Office, by telephone 01423 556455, email ben_rev@harrogate.gov.uk or via the web www.harrogate.gov.uk