Section: Benefits & Grants
Benefit Theft Campaign Bites
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) published its Pack of Lies, which aims to show how benefit thieves will use any excuse to get out of a difficult situation. Compiled as part of its No Ifs, No Buts campaign to stamp out benefit theft, the collection of lies features examples of excuses used by benefit thieves. The DWP pack sends out the clear message that, when it comes to stealing benefits, there are no excuses - the lies have all been heard before.
The DWP campaign is targeting benefit thieves in a cross-section of areas in the UK. It is directed at benefit claimants who deliberately withhold information, including those who:
- do not declare all their earnings;
- claim as a single person when they are living with someone as part of a couple; or
- do not declare the true extent of their savings or property.
Based on the experiences of DWP benefit fraud investigators across the UK, the excuses in the Pack of Lies include:
- "We don't live together; he just comes each morning."
- "I didn't declare my savings because they were given to me."
- "It's not my money! Someone's stolen my identity and put money in an account in my name."
- "The person on the CCTV footage looks like me going to work, but it's not."
DWP investigation officers have a range of far-reaching powers to help them detect those who think they can steal from taxpayers, including:
- Surveillance of people suspected of fraud.
- Authority to check customer details, including investments, savings, bank accounts, and government computer systems.
- Access to check for inconsistencies on utility bills.
- A close working relationship with police, HM Revenue and Customs, local authorities, and the criminal justice system.
These powers have resulted in an increase in the number of benefit thieves caught. In 2005/06 there were over 52,000 prosecutions and sanctions made across the UK.
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