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Councils to crack down on council tax fraud
- Published: Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Councils are to crack down on council tax fraud, particularly where people falsely claim single person's discount. People falsely claiming the 25 per cent discount, which can only be claimed by people over 18 who live alone, may be costing councils up to £90 million a year.
Single person's discount is for sole residents only
It is estimated that as many as 300,000 individuals may have falsely claimed single person's discount. The estimates were published in an Audit Commission report, 'Protecting the Public Purse'. The report reminds councils to guard against fraud, especially since it tends to rise when money is tight.
"It has never been more important that councils fight fraud," said Audit Commission Chief Executive Steve Bundred.
"Every pound lost to cheats is a pound that can't be spent on people in real need,"
Other types of fraud that councils are on the alert for include:
- housing benefit fraud
- council tax benefit fraud
- misuse of social care direct payments
The report suggests that housing tenancy fraud may be keeping up to 50,000 properties off social housing lists in England. It also warns councils to be wary of fraudsters seeking town hall jobs where they can go on to commit other types of fraud.
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