Report fraud against Braintree District Council

If you think someone is committing fraud against the Council, you can tell us about it online or by phone.

Examples of fraud include:

a person claiming Benefits (Council Tax Support) who has not declared income or employment
a person claiming Discounts when they are not entitled (such as Single Person Discount when someone else lives at the property)
a business which has not declared operating at an address in the District
a person who has not declared all relevant facts when applying for services such as in an application for Housing or for a Grant.

Please tell us as much information as you can about the suspected fraudsters, including:

If you think someone is living at a property undeclared, whether it be with a partner or by subletting, you can help our enquiries by telling us:

You can use our online form to report benefit fraud.

Call 01376 557856 to report any suspicions you may have about fraud. This includes Housing or Council Tax Benefit or any other Council business.

Housing Benefit Fraud – report directly to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)

Income Tax Fraud – reported directly to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

If you are the Victim of Fraud – contact the Police / Action Fraud for advice

We will keep any information you provide in strictest confidence.

We will not reply to you unless you want us to.

We will delete your email details.

We have to legally provide data to the national fraud initiative as requested by the cabinet office.

Find out more about Whistleblowing for when you have concerns over serious wrong-doing in the Council, such as:

Benefits Advice

Address: Causeway House
Bocking End
Braintree
Essex
CM7 9HB

Telephone: 01376 557852

Email: benefits@braintree.gov.uk