Guidance
Loss of benefit as a penalty for benefit fraud
Changes to the way benefits can be reduced or stopped as a penalty for a benefit fraud offence following the Welfare Reform Act 2012.
Documents
Details
The Welfare Reform Act 2012 introduced tougher penalties for people who commit benefit fraud.
Benefits can be reduced or stopped if a claimant, their partner or a family member is convicted of a benefit fraud offence or accepts an administrative penalty for such an offence. An administrative penalty is a financial penalty offered by DWP as an alternative to prosecution.