HBC Benefit Fraud Investigations - January 2014

The Hyndburn Borough Council investigations team have released their monthly update on their casework.

The Benefit Fraud sanctions and penalties given between May and December 2013 by the Investigations Team are:

• Prosecutions 19 - An increase of 6 on the last bulletin
• Official Cautions 59 - An increase of 12 on the last bulletin
• Administrative Penalty 4 - An increase of 1 on the last bulletin

These have a combined notional sanctions value of £137,600, an increase of £34,800 since the last
bulletin. This means the target has now been hit, but this won’t stop us from chasing and catching
other benefit cheats, there are already 36 people due to be interviewed during January 2014.

In the period April to December 2013, 82 people have been found guilty of Benefit Fraud. As we embark on 2014, you can help us really make this a year of great change by helping us stop fraudsters and saving those vital public funds which benefit cheats are not entitled to.

The Fraud Hotline 01254 380 240 is available 24 hours a day to leave details in addition to the
Council website’s report a fraud page. This can be reported by following this link:

HBC Benefit Fraud Form