Boltons Experience with Partnership Working Fraud Conference
2014
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Gareth Lord Housing Fraud Project Officer Bolton at Home
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Bolton at Homes Approach Bid for funding Tenancy Fraud Project
Set Up Procedures Case Management Staff Training Awareness
Specialist Teams Surveillance Equipment Partnership Working
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Joint Working Initiative Set up Funding Data Sharing Agreements
Objectives Procedures
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Barriers to Partnership Working What Barriers have you
encountered when working in partnerships?
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Barriers to Partnership Working Communication Data Protection
Legalities Staff Awareness Training Objectives Time
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Positives of Partnership Working What are the positives to come
out of partnership working?
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Positives of Partnership Working Information Sharing
Communication Learning Awareness Improved Relations Funding
Referrals Wider Audience
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Positives of Partnership Working Results!!!
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Carol Walker Counter Fraud Manager Bolton Council
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Multi-Agency Approaches to Fraud People who defraud, often dont
just cheat the benefit system they could be involved in other
crimes too. Therefore we work with other organisations including
Department for Work & Pensions Greater Manchester Police Other
LAs/Government Agencies & now Bolton at Home & Bolton
Community Homes
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Why are we Joint Working now? The government are promoting
tenancy fraud and housing issues at present. Bolton Council won a
bid for funding from the government, intended for Bolton at Home,
Bolton Community Homes and Bolton Council to investigate tenancy
fraud. Those committing one type of fraud can often be linked to
other frauds. The power to prosecute tenancy fraudsters under the
Social Housing Fraud Act 2013, falls to Local Authority legal
teams.
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Why Joint Work With Housing Benefit Investigators? Housing
Benefits have had a dedicated fraud team for over fifteen years.
Staff are Pins trained [a qualification backed by Portsmouth
University]. We have a proven track record of investigating fraud
within the system. The team have access to obtaining a lot of
specialised searches which landlords cannot access. Under the
umbrella of joint working this intelligence can be shared. Housing
benefits are willing to share their knowledge and expertise in this
field.
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The Aims Prevention, being vigilant stops fraud entering the
system. Detection by investigating fraudulent claims Punishment of
those caught Deter others, by publicising in the local press
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Question.. What types of benefit fraud do you think there
are?
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Answers include.. Undeclared working Not resident at an address
Undeclared partner/non-dependants Contrived tenancy Undeclared
income/capital False identity or multiple identity fraud Undeclared
changes in circumstances
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How is Tenancy & Benefit Fraud Linked? Tenancy Fraud
TypeBenefit Fraud Type Not principle homeNot resident Sub
lettingNot resident Running a businessUndeclared income Using false
information to obtain a tenancy Undeclared other property/partner
Key sellingNot resident Right to buyUndeclared income, capital or
living together
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Fraud Referrals Referrals are received by either organisation,
from staff, hotlines etc. There must be a suspicion of tenancy
& benefit fraud for joint working to commence. Joint working
follows agreed procedures. If not joint working, Bolton at Home/BCH
can make a request to Bolton Council, to obtain information which
would aide their investigation.
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Question.. Where do you think Housing Benefit investigators can
obtain their information/evidence from, to prove or disprove an
allegation?
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Answers include.. Internet, including Social Networking Sites
e.g. Facebook Other Local Authorities/Government Agencies/Landlords
Banks, Building Societies, Mortgage Companies etc. Credit Reference
Companies Utility Companies Employers Surveillance LAs are bound by
RIPA Land Registry Interviewing Witnesses including subtenants
& neighbours National Anti-Fraud Network
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What Happens once all the Information/Evidence has been
Obtained? Agree a strategy for the best way to speak to the tenant
and make arrangements. E.g. Visit/office interview. Discussions
with the tenant will be conducted jointly. If a formal interview
under caution is required, the HB Investigator will invite the
tenant to attend the interview. The HB Investigator will lead all
formal interviews and guide the Housing Officer through the
legalities of the interview.
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The End Result The next step in the Housing Benefit process
Reassessment of the claim. Calculate any overpaid benefit. The
Counter Fraud Manager will consider whether any further action is
required in relation to the HB. Consideration of prosecuting a
tenancy and benefit fraud case together. Publicity on suitable
cases, acts a deterrent to others.
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Case Study Referral received by Bolton at Home. The tenant had
moved to London with her partner, leaving two teenagers in the
property, there were anti social behaviour issues. Tenant
interviewed informally by Bolton at Home & a HB Investigator.
Ascertained she lived in London but returned to Bolton every 3-4
weeks. Tenant cautioned as HB & Carers Allowance fraud
suspected. The evidence obtained, includes a tenancy agreement for
a house in London, the tenant named on it.
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Case Study Continued Identified the tenant left her Bolton
based job, this was a week before the London tenancy commenced.
Tenant interviewed under caution. Tenant gave up the Bolton tenancy
voluntarily. Tenant withdrew her claim for carers allowance.
Housing Benefit overpayment 2135.04. Tenant accepted an
administration penalty.
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What to Include on a Referral? Its important you supply as much
detail as possible on referrals, dont assume the Investigator will
have the same local knowledge or contacts within the local
community as you. Names & descriptions of those involved. Any
alternate addresses. State where people work, the times they come
& go, do they wear a uniform or drive a company vehicle etc.
Cars colour, make, model & registration number. How long has
the fraud been going on for? Are there suspicions of other
activities at the property? Give details.
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Jean Aspinall Senior Home Ownership Officer Bolton Council
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Introduction What does the service do?
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The changes in outline Governments intention to reinvigorate
the Right to Buy - Eric Pickles announced on 3 rd January 2014
that, The Government will take further steps to reinvigorate the
Right to Buy in 2014 so more hard working tenants can aspire to buy
their homes
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The changes in outline Changes to Discount Maximum discount for
a house may increase from 60% to 70% and the 75,000 cap will start
increasing in line with the consumer index rate of inflation A 100
million fund will improve access to mortgage finance and new Right
to Buy Agents will guide people through the buying process
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How we as a service work Customer rings for application form
Home Ownership Team check rent screen to make sure tenant has the
qualifying period and also check council tax screen to see if there
are any issues with the account i.e. family members joining in the
application when the applicant is in receipt of single person
council tax Application form sent out to customer
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How we as a service work Upon receipt of application pack
customer rings Home Ownership to make appointment to attend
interview and provide appropriate I.D. In case of joint tenancies,
or applications where family members are joining in the
application, all persons must provide proof of their identity Any
postal/web applications are not processed. Customer is contacted to
arrange suitable appointment, if unable to contact them the
paperwork is returned with a covering explanatory letter
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How we as a service work At the interview the complete right to
buy procedure is explained to tenant/tenants Any financial issues
or queries are discussed and any concerns regarding possible fraud
are signposted to Gareth Lord, Fraud Officer and Carol Walkers Team
in Housing Benefit Investigations
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How we as a service work in conjunction with other fraud
services A tenant, who is in receipt of housing benefit, puts in a
right to buy application - we would ask if they have taken advice
on obtaining a mortgage if they have a mortgage offer then we would
ask for further proof of income if any discrepancies would refer to
housing benefit investigations if they advise us that the purchase
would be via a cash sale we would ask for further information i.e.
if cash is being provided by a relative or family member then we
would ask for their name and address and pass this on to housing
benefit investigations (it could be that the person supplying the
cash is in receipt of benefits!)
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How we as a service work in conjunction with other fraud
services Issues which may raise concerns with Right to Buy
Applications Tenant cannot supply any documentation which is less
then 3 months old and which gives their name and address Tenant
cannot supply any recent utility bills Tenant does not respond to
letters Tenant supplies bank statements which show payments being
made which are clearly for a mortgage on other property