The government has announced new rules to deter claimants from committing benefit fraud, and ensure stolen money is returned.
On top of any fine or custodial sentence handed out by the courts, new measures include:
Minister for Welfare Reform Lord Freud said:
These new measures will ensure the welfare safety net helps families who want to work hard and play by the rules, not the minority who want to abuse the benefits system.
Action already taken to counter the estimated £1.2 billion lost in benefit fraud in 2012/13 includes:
Read the Fraud and Error in the benefit system: 2012/13 estimates
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