Housing benefit and council tax benefit are funded by the taxpayer and Shropshire Council therefore has a duty to protect the money it spends on these benefits.

There are a small number of people who either make fraudulent claims for benefit or who do not tell us about changes in their circumstances that they know would reduce the amount of money they should get.

We have a dedicated team of staff employed in the prevention and detection of fraudulent benefit claims. All information given to this team is looked at and, if necessary, fully investigated.

Reporting suspected benefit fraud

All information we get about a report of suspected fraud is treated in the strictest confidence. Please remember that if you want to report a suspected fraud, you do not have to give your name. If you do give us your name and details, our Investigation Team may contact you for further information.

Examples of the types of benefit fraud that we would like you to report to us are:

• People who are claiming to live alone but have partners living with them
• People who are working and claiming benefit
• People with undeclared savings/capital
• People who own more than one property
• People who have undeclared household members
• People who are claiming from but not living at an address
• People with undeclared occupational pensions

If you want to report a suspected benefit fraud online, please follow the link on this page.

Alternatively, please contact the Benefits Service Fraud Team on 0345 678 9033 or fraud@shropshire.gov.uk

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) also encourages people to report a suspected benefit fraud by using the following number:

National Benefit Fraud Hotline: 0800 854 440
Textphone users should call: 0800 328 1512

If you want to report something to us, please provide as much information as you can, no matter how trivial it may seem. One small piece of information could be vital to the success of our investigation.

If you are a benefit claimant and you want to report a change in your circumstances online, please follow the link on this page. Alternatively, please contact the Benefits Service.

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