Fraud clampdown targets Rotherham's benefit cheats

The National Fraud Initiative is run once every two years by the Audit Commission and requires local authorities, such as councils, police and fire authorities, to download and share different sets of information and data.

Under the Audit Commission Act of 1998, Rotherham Borough Council is required to provide housing rents data along with housing benefit claimants, payroll, student loans and pension payroll.

This data, such as payroll and housing rents, is then cross-matched to identify possible incidences of fraud or overpayment.

Examples of such matches are council tenants with council properties in two different authorities or a public sector employee claiming housing benefit but tailing to declare an income that would preclude or reduce entitlement to benefits.

The collection and submission of data will take place next month (October) and the actual processing and matching of information will take place over November and December. Local authorities will receive the results and any data matches in January.

The last National Fraud Initiative in 2010/11 helped trace almost £229 million in fraud, error and overpayments in England.

Cllr Jahangir Akhtar, deputy leader of Rotherham Borough Council, welcomed the initiative.

He said: “Although we are obliged to take part in this scheme, it is very worthwhile because such schemes do have a a positive effect on benefit fraudsters.

“Since the initiative began in 1996, the programme has helped identify a massive £939 million in fraud or error and as a result the initiative has attracted international recognition.

“More importantly, it means that more money is going to the people who really need it."

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