DWP sending officials to homes of anyone suspected of benefit fraud in crackdown

The Department for Work and Pensions will investigate anyone suspected of benefit fraud in a crackdown, it has been warned. If DWP officials think your claim is fraudulent, they could even end up knocking on your door.

You commit benefit fraud by claiming benefits you're not entitled to on purpose. This could be by not reporting a change in your circumstances OR providing false information, according to the DWP website.

On signs you're being probed, the DWP says you'll be contacted by it, HMRC, the Defence Business Services or your council.

The DWP adds that your benefit may be stopped while you're investigated. If this happens, you'll receive a letter explaining it. On home visits, it says, "You may be visited by Fraud Investigation Officers (FIOs) or asked to attend an interview to talk about your claim. " This is called an 'interview under caution'.

It could become part of a criminal investigation against you. If you've committed or attempted fraud, you'll be told to pay back the overpaid money or you may be taken to court or asked to pay a penalty (between £350 and £5,000).

Alternatively, your benefits may be reduced or stopped, with penalties lasting up to three years if convicted of benefit fraud.

The amount of time they're stopped for depends on how many times you've committed fraud. Only specific benefits, known as 'sanctionable benefits', can be reduced or stopped.

However, if you commit fraud on a benefit that cannot be reduced or stopped, your other benefits may be cut instead.

The following 19 benefits can be reduced or stopped if you commit benefit fraud:

• Carer's Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Incapacity Benefit
• Income Support
• Industrial Death Benefit
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Industrial Injuries Reduced Earnings Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Retirement Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Unemployability Supplement
• Jobseeker's Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• War Disablement Pension
• War Widow's Pension
• War Pension Unemployability Supplement
• War Pension Allowance for Lower Standard of Occupation
• Widowed Mother's/Parent's Allowance