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• assess the referral for content
• if taken on for investigation, the referral content will be used to determine what action should be taken
• request information from the benefit fraud national database as to whether the claimant has offended previously
• make initial enquiries to confirm whether the referrer's suspicions can be substantiated, allowing us to take the investigation further
• approach all relevant sources of information, such as employers / financial institutions / linked individuals, to establish whether there is any substance to the allegation
• where appropriate, use legislative authority to gather all information pertinent to the investigations
• if our investigations support the allegation or uncover any other type of benefit fraud, then the details will be confirmed by documentary evidence and witness statements
• invite the claimant into tape-recorded interview under caution
• assess whether intent to defraud has been proven by assessing the overall situation, using as the basis the documentary evidence, witness statements and interview under caution transcript
• assess whether a fraud offence has been committed
• assess whether sanction action is appropriate
• where appropriate, request that the benefit be reassessed
• take sanction action as necessary
• report informaton to national benefit fraud database

 

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