Benefit Fraud Housing benefit and council tax benefit fraud are the most common types of fraud committed against the council and the most commonly detected.
In Southwark we pay out £181 million in benefits and have identified that almost a million pounds was lost as a result of fraud over the past year which we have taken steps to recover.
The council, through our partner Liberata, has in place a range of controls to prevent, detect and investigate benefit fraud. We also rely on the vigilance of the community to help us detect the fraudsters.
Report suspected fraud
If you suspect that someone is fraudulently claiming housing benefit, call our fraud hotline on 0800 052 1010, email us on fraud.hotline@southwark.gov.uk or use an  online fraud report form.
Examples of the fraudulent means of obtaining benefits that we encounter are
- Claimants failing to declare income from employment, student loan or bursary or tax credits
- Not declaring savings, investments or property owned
- Not living at the property
- Claiming more than one identity
- Not declaring living with a partner who is working
- Falsifying wage details
- Failing to declare a private or occupational pension
- Claiming housing benefit on a property owned by the claimant or a close relative
The use of data matching enables fraud investigators to cross-check benefit claims against
income tax, national insurance and pension databases and share information with government departments. Investigators have legal powers to look at financial records, such as bank statements, mortgage accounts and bills, if they have reason to suspect fraud.
Once detected, we can prevent further losses, recover the overpayments and prosecute the offenders.
Prosecutions and sanctions
Benefit fraud is a criminal offence that will attract prosecution in court or a local authority sanction, as permitted under existing legislation. Southwark council is committed to taking the appropriate action as set out in its sanction policy document (Word 132kb).
Report change in your circumstances
If you have claimed benefit and find that you have failed to notify us of a change in your circumstances, please tell us now in one of the following ways.
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Bermondsey One Stop Shop
Spa Road
Bermondsey
SE16 QP
Peckham One Stop Shop
Ground Floor
Peckham library
122 Peckham Hill Street
Peckham
London
SE15 5JR
Walworth One Stop Shop
151 Walworth Road
London
SE17 1RY
Dulwich area housing office
41-43 East Dulwich Road
Dulwich
SE22 9BY
Find out more information on the Department for Works and Pensions benefit fraud website.
More information about fraud
Contact us
By telephone
020 7525 1880 - housing and council tax benefit
020 7525 1850 - council tax
By post
Council Tax Section
London Borough Of Southwark
P.O. Box 782
Bromley
BR1 3YE
Please indicate which department your query is for.
In person
Bermondsey One Stop Shop
Spa Road
Bermondsey
SE16 3QN
Peckham One Stop Shop
Ground Floor
Peckham Library
122 Peckham Hill Street
SE15 5JR
Walworth One Stop Shop
151 Walworth Road
London
SE17 1RY
Dulwich Area Housing Office
41-43 East Dulwich Road
Dulwich
SE22 9BY
All one stop shops are open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. In addition, Peckham one stop shop is open on Saturday, 9am to 1pm.
By email
Housing/council tax benefit: Souhousingbenefitsuk@Liberata.com
Council tax: Soucounciltaxuk@Liberata.com |