If your circumstances change, you must report it

If you have not reported a change in your income or your family situation, it is illegal. You may get a letter about it — do not ignore it.

If the office that pays your benefits or tax credits suspects that you may have committed a criminal offence with your benefits, they may write and ask you to take part in an interview.

Usually the letter will be signed by someone like a Fraud Investigator, but sometimes Council investigators have different job titles — for example, Benefits Enquiry Officer or Audit Officer.

The letter should also tell you that the interview will be tape-recorded and that you may wish to get legal advice.

This is called an ‘Interview Under Caution’. It is to gather evidence to prosecute you, so do not ignore this.

If you have received any of these letters, you should speak to the Citizens Advice Bureaux or speak to one of our Welfare Benefits Officers on 0300 303 2500.

We would also suggest that you look at the leaflet provided by the Disability Alliance called ‘How to deal with a benefit fraud interview’ by going to www.disabilityalliance.org/fraud.pdf