Counter-fraud action in Angus to tackle housing benefit and council tax misdemeanours has resulted in almost £250,000 being recouped for the public purse.
Over the past 12 months savings in excess of £153,000 were made from investigative work by the Corporate Fraud Team (CFT) with a further £79,000 identified from fraud and payment errors.
Council officials have also investigated internal allegations of improper conduct between an employee and a contractor and money missing from council premises.
Councillors on Angus Council’s scrutiny and audit committee in Forfar were recently given an update on the work during the financial year to March 31.
Chief executive Margo Williamson, said: “During the financial year, the CFT identified savings in excess of £153k from investigative work and a further £79k of fraud and error in Housing Benefits and Council Tax through the sharing of intelligence with SFIS (Single Fraud Investigation Service).
“Action is taken by Angus Council to recover these monies.”
The CFT use data matching techniques in order to identify council tax fraud and incorrectness and also to improve the integrity of the council’s records.
In 2017/18, data matching initiatives resulted in the removal of discounts amounting to £94,448.
The CFT works in collaboration with colleagues in revenues which identified council tax savings of £16,914.
Although the responsibility for the investigation of Housing Benefit fraud transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in 2015, the CFT continue to identify benefit overpayments.
These overpayments, which are recoverable, have arisen from the investigation of other case types such as tenancy fraud and council tax allegations and also from referrals received from the Housing Benefit Matching Service.
The overpaid benefits identified during the year to March 31 amounts to £41,707.
The CFT also assist DWP Counter Fraud and Compliance Directorate with benefit investigations.
The intelligence work identified £79,790 of fraud and error in housing benefit and council tax.
Mrs Williamson said tenancy fraud is now recognised as one of the most significant areas of fraud committed against local authorities.
Examples of tenancy fraud include unlawful subletting, wrongful tenancy assignment and succession, failure to use a property as the principal home and use of false information in a housing application to gain a tenancy.
A joint approach has led to the successful recovery of seven council properties.
Participation in the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) also identified overpayments totalling £15,715.
Mrs Williamson also gave an update on the work being done against those who attempt to defraud the council.
She said: “During 2017/18, corporate fraud investigations included allegations of improper conduct between an employee and a contractor, missing monies from council premises and misuse of the flexi system.
“Four investigations resulted in the recommendation of internal disciplinary proceedings.
“CFT staff also investigated three allegations of missing monies at a partner organisation.”
