Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is a statutory obligation for Jobcentre Plus officers to report suspected benefit fraud.

As Civil Servants, all Jobcentre Plus staff must adhere to the Civil Service Code which states they must ‘comply with the law and uphold the administration of justice’.

Jobcentre staff have access to the DWP Fraud Referral Portal. This is a source of information and guidance for staff when fraud is suspected or has been notified by a member of the public.

A Fraud Referral Form is completed when a member of DWP discovers abuse of the benefit system whilst undertaking their official duties or if an allegation is received from, or about, an employer or organisation.

Where post is received into a Jobcentre referring to an allegation of potential fraud, this is passed on to the DWP’s Operational Intelligence Unit to investigate.