How do I report benefit fraud?

For people who suspect someone is committing benefit fraud.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

Report online, by phone or by post; all reports are anonymous. In England and Wales, call 0800 854 440; in Northern Ireland, 0800 975 6050.

Give as much detail as you can, and only report once.
Don't investigate yourself or tell anyone.
DWP won't tell you the outcome.
In Scotland, report fraud against Social Security Scotland benefits to Social Security Scotland online or free on 0800 158 2071.

Key facts

Anonymous
0800 854 440
Report once

Ways to report

Method	Details
Online	The report benefit fraud service on GOV.UK
Phone (England and Wales)	National Benefit Fraud Hotline: 0800 854 440, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Phone in Welsh	0800 678 3722
Relay UK	18001 then 0800 854 440
British Sign Language	Video relay service, using a computer
Phone (Northern Ireland)	Northern Ireland Benefit Fraud Hotline: 0800 975 6050, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
Post	Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 2BP

What to include

Give as much information as you can, including:

the person's name
their address
the type of fraud you think they are committing

Only report someone once. For your own safety, do not try to find out more, and do not let anyone know you are making a report.

Will they know it was me?

All reports are anonymous. You do not have to give your name or contact details.

What happens next

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) looks at the information you give. They will not tell you what happens with your report.

If DWP finds fraud, the person may:

have their benefit stopped
have to pay back money they should not have had
be taken to court

Benefits paid by Social Security Scotland

Some benefits in Scotland are paid by Social Security Scotland, not DWP. Adult Disability Payment is one example. Report suspected fraud with these benefits to Social Security Scotland:

Online: through mygov.scot
Phone: 0800 158 2071, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm (free)
Relay: 18001 then 0800 158 2071
British Sign Language: through Contact Scotland BSL
Post: Social Security Scotland, PO Box 10299, Dundee, DD1 9FT

Reports are kept anonymous and confidential. But if you are the only person who could know the information, the person you report may still be able to work out it was you.

For other benefits in Scotland, such as Universal Credit, report to DWP instead, for example using the online service.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Report benefit fraud, GOV.UK
Report benefit fraud in Scotland, mygov.scot

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Report online

Common questions

Can I report benefit fraud anonymously?

Yes, all reports are anonymous and you do not have to give your name or contact details. If you report to Social Security Scotland, the person may still work out it was you if you are the only one who knows about the fraud.

What information do I need to report benefit fraud?

Give the person's name, their address and the type of fraud you think they are committing.

What happens if someone is caught committing benefit fraud?

If DWP finds fraud, it can stop the person's benefits, make them pay back money and take them to court.

Can I report benefit fraud by post?

Yes, write to Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 2BP.

Official sources

1.Report benefit fraudwww.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud
2.Report benefit fraud (Social Security Scotland)www.mygov.scot/benefit-fraud

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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