Assistance and fraud

What is it?

A person receiving Social assistance benefit benefits must report changes on time. The municipality actively checks to see if someone is entitled to benefits. Do you think someone is committing fraud? Report this to the municipality.

Do you have your own benefits? Then report changes on time. This will prevent you from accidentally committing fraud.

If there is doubt about entitlement to the benefit, the municipality starts a fraud investigation. Does the investigation reveal that you are fraudulent? Then you have to pay back all the money you received too much. In addition, you will receive a fine that is as high as the amount you have to pay back. Do you commit fraud again within 5 years? Then the fine will be even higher.

Examples of benefit fraud include:

• failure to report a change in your income or assets, for example that you are working (black) or have an expensive car
• do not pass on that you are trapped
• failing to disclose that your family composition is changing or that you are married or divorced, or you are pretending to be divorced (sham divorce)
• provide a false address

A fraud investigation works like this

• The municipality collects information and invites you for an interview.
• The congregation makes home visits.
• The municipality starts an investigation. During this investigation, the municipality checks your address, among other things, to see if the information is correct.

Does the municipality think you have been fraudulent for a long time? And received more than a certain amount (€50,000) too much? Then the social investigation department will conduct a criminal investigation.