(DWP) Countries comes together to fight benefit fraud

Today, the Department for Work and Pensions will sign a historic arrangement with five other countries to enhance cooperation on tackling benefit fraud. This costs the UK taxpayer £800 million a year.

Recognising the benefits of mutual co-operation, the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand have come together to sign the 'Windsor Arrangement' which aims to achieve stronger prevention, earlier detection and effective deterrence of benefit fraud.

DWP Permanent Secretary Leigh Lewis said today:

"The six countries that have signed this agreement today are all committed to fighting benefit fraud. This arrangement will ensure each country works together more systematically and, in turn, increase our individual and collective protection against those who seek to defraud our benefit systems. This historic agreement is just another sign of the cooperation enjoyed between our countries."

The six signatories have agreed to work together to share intelligence and risk profiling, to share strategies and best practice for combating fraud, to determine scope for carrying out investigations and enforcement for each other and to enhance understanding of the nature and extent of identity fraud.

(DWP) 'we're closing in' on benefit thieves in Spain

The Department for Work and Pensions has extended its successful benefit cheats hotline to the Costa del Sol and Canary Islands following its launch in Alicante in September 2008.

Residents in these popular ex-pat areas can report suspected British benefit thieves to a local number and their concerns will be passed on by the operator of the hotline to a team of investigators in the UK.

Employment and Welfare Reform Minister Tony McNulty said:
"We are absolutely determined to stop benefit thieves stealing from the British taxpayer. Our commitment extends beyond the borders of the UK. Even in sunny Spain, we're closing in on benefit fraud."

A publicity campaign, 'We're closing in', in the local ex-pat media is raising awareness of the hotline as well as a dedicated web site where suspected British benefit thieves living abroad can be reported on-line.

The total cost of benefit fraud committed by UK benefit recipients living in or travelling to countries abroad is an estimated £63 million a year. It involves a range of scams such as people on means-tested benefits going abroad but failing to declare their absence, and individuals working while claiming sickness benefits.

This initiative is part of a growing relationship between Spain and the UK on social security issues that already includes agreements to data-match and share death notifications.