Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
FOI Reference: FOI/202400428267
Date received: 26 August 2024
Date responded: 18 September 2024
Information requested
The number of reports of suspected fraud that Social Security Scotland has received since 1 January 2024 to the present date (broken down by month and type of benefit).
Response
We have interpreted your request to mean allegations of fraud. Allegations do not automatically become fraud investigation cases as research and assessment is carried out prior to tasking to an investigator. Social Security Scotland does not decide when fraud has been committed; that is for the justice system. Therefore, we do not classify a behaviour as fraud until conviction (or the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service has decided on a non-court disposal as an alternative to prosecution).
Please find the requested information in the document attached. As you will see from the figures provided, an allegation can cover many different benefits at the same time.
About FOI
Social Security Scotland is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. The Scottish Government also publishes responses to requests. You can view the responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
FOI 20200428267