Council tackle record number of benefits cheats (From Sutton Guardian)

Sutton Council caught record 202 benefits last year

8:00am Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in News By James Pepper

The council tracked down a record number of benefits cheats last year.

In 2011/12 the Benefits Fraud Team handed out 89 cautions and 79 administrative penalties and also pushed through 34 successful prosecutions.

The total is 73 higher than the previous year and councillor Richard Clifton, lead member for revenues and benefits, said: "Fraudulently claiming benefits is stealing from the borough’s law-abiding residents. The benefits fraud team works hard every day to catch these cheats."

The 202 cheats overclaimed a total of £777,842 which the council is currently working to recover.

The total value of administrative penalties already gathered is £23,415.

If you think someone is claiming Housing and Council Tax Benefit they are not entitled to, please call the council’s Investigation Team, in confidence, on 020 8770 5687 or go to the website www.sutton.gov.uk.

Alternatively call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 328 6340 or Textphone on 0800 328 6341.