Bolton’s Experience with Partnership Working Fraud Conference 2014

Gareth Lord Housing Fraud Project Officer Bolton at Home

Bolton at Home’s Approach Bid for funding Tenancy Fraud Project Set Up Procedures Case Management Staff Training Awareness Specialist Teams Surveillance Equipment Partnership Working

Joint Working Initiative Set up Funding Data Sharing Agreements Objectives Procedures

Barriers to Partnership Working What Barriers have you encountered when working in partnerships?

Barriers to Partnership Working Communication Data Protection Legalities Staff Awareness Training Objectives Time

Positives of Partnership Working What are the positives to come out of partnership working?

Positives of Partnership Working Information Sharing Communication Learning Awareness Improved Relations Funding Referrals Wider Audience

Positives of Partnership Working Results!!!

Carol Walker Counter Fraud Manager Bolton Council

Multi-Agency Approaches to Fraud People who defraud, often don’t 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 LA’s/Government Agencies & now Bolton at Home & Bolton Community Homes

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.

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.

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

Question….. What types of benefit fraud do you think there are?

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

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

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.

Question….. Where do you think Housing Benefit investigators can obtain their information/evidence from, to prove or disprove an allegation?

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 – LA’s are bound by RIPA Land Registry Interviewing Witnesses including subtenants & neighbours National Anti-Fraud Network

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.

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.

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.

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 £ Tenant accepted an administration penalty.

What to Include on a Referral? It’s important you supply as much detail as possible on referrals, don’t 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.

Jean Aspinall Senior Home Ownership Officer Bolton Council

Introduction What does the service do?

The changes in outline Government’s 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’

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

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

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

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 Walker’s Team in Housing Benefit Investigations

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!)

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

References /make-right-to-buy-your-new-years- resolution

Questions?