Britain launches drive to catch sunshine benefit cheats

PALMA
THE British government has this week launched a campaign to catch “benefit thieves” living here in Spain.
According to the government, benefit fraud by people living abroad costs UK taxpayers an estimated 63 million pounds a year and it is hoping that British residents living here in Spain will help the government by calling a dedicated hotline to report suspected benefit thieves.

The “we're closing in” campaign was officially launched by the Department for Work and Pensions yesterday and BBC News was on the Costa del Sol investigating the situation for itself. The BBC apparently found British residents claiming to live on illegal handouts and which had been aided by answering an advert in a newspaper which offered to help people fill out their claim forms.

SOME PLAYING THE SYSTEM
Expatriates are allowed to claim some UK benefits like pensions and heating allowances but it would appear that some are playing the system.
Officials do not know how many people are making illegal claims or where they all live, but they believe the majority are in Spain, where an estimated one million Britons have homes.

Tony McNulty, the Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform, said: “We are absolutely determined to stop benefit thieves stealing from the British taxpayer. “Our commitment extends beyond the borders of the UK. Even in sunny Spain, we're closing in on benefit fraud.” The fraud apparently involves a range of scams such as people on means-tested benefits going abroad but failing to declare their absence, and individuals working while claiming sickness benefits. “STEALING” This initiative is part of a growing relationship between Spain and the UK on social security issues that already includes agreements to data-match and share death notifications.

Martin Fitches from the Department for Work and Pensions said the vast majority of Britons living in Spain “are law abiding, so we're working with them to catch people who are stealing British taxpayer's money.” The campaign was first launched in Alicante in 2008 and is now being gradually expanded across Spain.
The launch of the new campaign has angered Conservative MPs and supporters which have been lobbying the government for the reinstatement of allowances for Britons living abroad because, while backing any drive to catch benefit thieves, they fear that the campaign will overshadow their own drive.

The Spanish benefit fraud hotline number is 900 554 440 and the dedicated web site address is www.dwp.gov.uk/benefit-thieves-spain and provides more detail on what constitutes benefit fraud along with an on line reporting form.