Welfare Tax Credits: Fraud
(asked on 12th September 2016) - View Source
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what investigations his Department carries out to confirm the accuracy of information provided by HM Revenue and Customs that an unreported adult is living at the property of a tax credit claimant prior to ceasing to pay the benefit; what evidence his Department accepts from such claimant to show that no unreported adult living at that property; and if he will make a statement.
Tax Credit fraud referrals are routed from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to the Fraud and Error Service (FES) within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if it is believed there is a DWP benefit interest.
Investigations of HMRC Tax Credit, Living Together fraud allegations are conducted by Local Service Investigation Team (LSI) within FES. LSI staff are employed to look at all types of welfare fraud from all sources of referral.
FES investigations are thorough to accurately establish the facts to prove or disprove the allegation made. Investigators use a range of information to confirm the accuracy of Tax Credit, Living Together allegations including local enquiries with bodies like the Police or schools to establish any links between customer and alleged partner. However, lines of enquiry can vary based on the differences in individual cases.
Please see further the full list of information that can be obtained by FES during investigations in the redacted guidance link below from page 480 onwards.
On completion of the investigation if evidence is gathered to necessitate an Interview Under Caution the claimant will be notified to attend. Any evidence can be brought voluntarily by the customer to the interview which will then be assessed by DWP. However, following the interview, statements from third parties may be obtained to substantiate the evidence/answers given.