Lincolnshire assessing housing benefit fraud until March 2016

Now is the time for tenants in social housing in Lincolnshire to report changes in their circumstances to their local borough or district council. If they do not, a new campaign called Tell Us that was launched across the county may discover this, and action will be taken. The authorities may make a discovery that a household is incorrectly receiving benefits.

The authorities will be assessing all tenants receiving benefits as part of the Tell Us campaign. It is estimated that as many as 50,000 households will go through this assessment from now until March 2016. The authorities are seeking people who either did not report a change in their circumstances or who are intentionally committing fraud. If they are discovered, the proper action will be taken.

Currently, over £160,000,000 is spent on rent and housing payments for the vulnerable in Lincolnshire. This amount is the total of all of the local council’s as well. However there is a portion of those government funds that is being spent in error. Some money may be going to fraudsters or others that are abusing the system. In some cases this may just be that a family did not report a change in their circumstances, but in other instances the fraud is deliberate.

The Tell Us campaign is being used across the country to cut down on this waste. The aim of the central government is to save a large amount of money that is being spent on housing. If waste and fraud is reduced, then the amount of money for housing needs can in effect cover more vulnerable people.

Report changes in Lincolnshire

If anyone has a change in their circumstances, they need to report this to the authorities. If they do not, and investigators discover this was not done, then prosecution may be done. What tenants need to report is any change in their income, employment, savings, and financial situation. Other changes that need to be reported include leaving full time education or if the tenant had children moving out of the home. If there are questions over what to report or not, people can contact their local council.

The authorities in Lincolnshire will first assess those people that are considered to be at high risk of not reporting changes. This will be determined using the processes the authorities have in place.

If someone is receiving money for their rent that they should not be receiving, or if they do not report to their council, then the council may prosecute the claimant. Or the claimant may face a financial penalty, including they also need to pay back the funds they were given. Any funds that someone needs to pay may also come with interest that is due as well.

If there are changes to circumstances or any other housing issues, now is the time to report it to a local Borough or District Council before the authorities discover it. The Tell Us campaign is running from now until March 2016.