Glenfern Associates: CIVEM Fraud Referral
Fraud Referrals
Each month the Housing Benefit Matching Service (HBMS) collects data that relate to Council Tax Benefit (CTB) and Housing Benefit (HB) claims from local authorities.
By collating this data with data from other approved sources, the HBMS is able to identify errors and inconsistencies that might indicate fraud.
Any discrepancies that are found by data matching are returned to local authorities as Fraud Referrals. The Verification Framework stipulates that such problems be resolved within two months of notification.
While one discrepancy might be resolved simply by correcting minor errors, others may call for a full review. A full review could lead to the suspension or cancellation of a claim, the start of a fraud investigation, and perhaps culminate in prosecution.
CIVEM - Software for your Benefit
- CIVEM® is an efficient solution for local government to reduce and prevent benefit fraud.
The Fraud Referral Scoring module of CIVEM produces a score for a fraud referral impartially and objectively, to determine whether the case warrants further investigation. The score is based upon what is known, and takes into account the reliability of such information.
- Who should be investigated further?
Not all referrals lead to further investigation. CIVEM helps to decide where effort should be placed.
CIVEM - Fraud Referral Scoring Module
- Starts with an HBMS Fraud Referral
- Poses a number of simple, structured questions in several categories, relating to the possible fraud case
- Computes a score
- Determines objectively from the score whether further investigation is needed
- Produces a checklist of appropriate, investigative actions derived from the answers
- A simple question and answer dialogue makes it easy to use
- User-friendly: uses the familiar Microsoft interface.
Our Method
- CIVEM® creates a new Microsoft Excel workbook for the Fraud Case. e.g. Case No. 5555
Attention is given to the status of the claim.
- The Fraud Case can be linked to the Housing Benefit reference number.
- If the case has been set up already, there is an opportunity to review it, or start afresh.
- The claimant's personal details can be entered after clicking on the Claimant tab. The current age is calculated from a valid date of birth.
The user is able to comment on the Reliability of the source, the Quality of information and the nature of the Referral by clicking on the tabs in turn to activate them.
- Reliability of the source.
- The user can indicate what is known about the claimant, a partner and non-dependents - including details of employment.
- What prompted the referral?
- Controls on the Profile tab are deactivated if the information is known. i.e. from the date of birth, or title.
By clicking the relevant tab, the user can move on to the Allegations, Payment and Claim Type.
- Indicate which allegations have been made,
- and where the benefit is paid.
- Indicate the type of claim.
- There is an opportunity to add several notes.
Clicking on the Score tab exposes the Total Score, and advises what action should be taken as a result. Intermediate scores for each category are shown.
- CIVEM helps you to decide whether further investigation is justified in this case.
A report can be generated to show a breakdown of the total score, and to specify what further investigative actions should be taken.