Benefit Fraud

Wirral Council administers Housing and Council Tax Benefit to approximately 40,000 customers at any one time.

If you wish to report fraud, you can do it online or complete the Fraud Referral form. You can also text us on 07786 202 304, starting your message with 'fraud'.

The Council is committed to providing this service in a professional manner and aims to deliver the correct amount of benefit entitlement to the correct people the first time round.

The Council is aware of the high risk from fraud, error or irregularity within the benefit system and that it is necessary to protect the public purse from abuse.

To manage this risk we have established a team of highly trained officers dedicated to identifying, investigating and preventing fraud.

It is the purpose of the team to investigate allegations of fraud and take legal action against people found committing fraud.

Through our Fraud Team, we seek to recover all overpayments and use different sources to find out about fraud including:

• the public
• the police
• local and national Government departments.

If anyone is found committing fraud, then there are a number of penalties that can be applied. In some cases, prosecutions can result in prison sentences being imposed.

Successful prosecutions may be reported to the media and on the Council's website. See Wirral's prosecution policy.

Our Counter Fraud Team operates within Data Protection and Human Rights legislation when investigating fraudulent claims.