A Benefits Fraud Conference – Tuesday 12 May 2009

Tackling Benefit Fraud under Welfare Reform and Economic Changes

Local Government House, Smith Square, Westminster, SW1

This timely one-day conference looks at the key factors that will dominate the policies and resources of local authority benefit fraud teams in the next couple of years; the changes to welfare benefits, as outlined in the Welfare Reform White Paper, together with deepening economic recession.

It is likely that these will lead to fundamental changes to the counter fraud activities of local authorities. Welfare reform will see the increased use of sanctions for fraud together with expectations that all sections of the authority will be more coherent in approaches to worklessness and anti-social behaviour. This will create the need for increased links between benefit fraud, anti-social behaviour and community safety.

Welfare reform comes during a period of economic downturn which will put increased pressure on local authorities to reduce costs at a time of increasing claimant numbers and the likely increase in fraud that comes with increased unemployment. In addition, research has shown that the state of the economy has an impact on the level and types of fraud that are likely to be committed.

Benefit fraud teams will need to plan for significant changes especially in the light of a further emphasis on efficiency targets and the new national indicators.

This conference will provide benefit fraud managers and officers with an understanding of the significant changes under welfare reform and the likely impact of the recession. It will assist fraud management in preparing for these changes and in ensuring that a high standard of fraud investigation can be maintained during a time of welfare reform and economic uncertainty.

Conference Objectives: