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Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Volume 479: debated on Monday 21 July 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008, Official Report, column 740W, on social security benefits: fraud, how many people (a) received a caution and (b) were convicted in respect of an offence of benefit fraud in each quarter for the last three years for which figures are available; and how many of those convicted were dealt with by way of (i) a discharge, (ii) a fine, (iii) a community sentence, (iv) a suspended sentence, (v) a custodial sentence, (vi) a custodial sentence of more than six months and (vii) a custodial sentence of more than 12 months. (216777)

Information broken down by the length of the custodial sentence is not available.

The available information for DWP administered benefits is in the table.

Caution

Conviction

Discharge

Fine

Community service

Suspended sentence

Custodial sentence

2004-05

Q1

2,131

2,306

649

414

650

41

146

Q2

2,480

2,160

648

405

608

35

180

Q3

2,371

2,092

684

411

601

41

149

Q4

3,071

2,389

668

415

578

30

124

Total

10,053

8,947

2,649

1,645

2,437

147

599

2005-06

Q1

3,037

2,010

618

376

686

55

263

Q2

2,493

2,064

629

312

704

59

262

Q3

2,611

2,303

532

252

670

69

235

Q4

2,426

2,136

660

322

806

92

153

Total

10,567

8,513

2,439

1,262

2,866

275

913

2006-07

Q1

3,296

1,809

510

248

652

99

222

Q2

3,234

1,749

423

187

682

156

146

Q3

2,977

1,391

343

140

470

130

137

Q4

2,515

1,807

456

215

583

145

108

Total

12,022

6,756

1,732

790

2,387

530

613

Sources:

1. FIBS (Fraud Information by Sector) and FRAIMS.

2. Quarterly conviction figures from DWP/DH Legal Group.

Available information for local authority administered benefits is in the table.

Number of people cautioned and convicted during each quarter for the last three years

Cautions

Convictions

2004-05

Q1

1,216

1,026

Q2

1,652

1,238

Q3

1,711

1,165

Q4

2,070

1,259

Total

6,649

4,688

2005-06

Q1

1,925

1,443

Q2

2,327

1,449

Q3

2,087

1,542

Q4

3,369

1,800

Total

9,708

6,234

2006-07

Q1

1,991

1,409

Q2

2,586

1,471

Q3

2,569

1,377

Q4

3,205

1,477

Total

10,351

5,734

Source:

Local authority housing benefit administrative returns.