looters and moochers : the benefit cheats

The benefits cheats who move abroad but still cost us millions | Mail Online

Dozens of Britons have been discovered fraudulently claiming benefits after moving abroad.

Officials have discovered 51 fraudsters in 20 countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Spain, Greece, Australia, Pakistan, Bulgaria and Cyprus.

Critics said last night that the figures were proof that the system was far too easy to cheat.

Benefits fraudsters abroad costs taxpayers around £63million a year. Sickness claimants have been known to use wheelchairs when applying for benefits but have later been spotted dancing in Spanish nightclubs.

A British couple were jailed for claiming benefits while they sailed round the world in a luxury yacht in 2008 but critics said it did little to deter other chancers.

Yesterday, Work and Pensions Minister Jonathan Shaw listed 20 countries where 51 cases of British benefit fraud were being investigated.

In a parliamentary answer, he said: 'UK nationals can, in certain circumstances, continue to receive some benefits while abroad, others will cease immediately.

'The Department for Work and Pensions is reminding people in the latest campaign and in leaflets, of their responsibility to tell us if they are going abroad.'

The Government was also sharing information with some countries to try to catch rogue claimants and employing Department for Work and Pensions officers based abroad.

Incredibly, expats can claim Jobseekers' Allowance for up to three months, so long as they register that they are looking for work with an overseas job centre.

They can also legitimately claim disability and sickness benefits as well as winter fuel payments, even in hot climates.

Tory work and pensions spokesman Mark Harper called on the Government to tighten up its rules. 'Hard working members of the public will be astounded that it's so easy to play the system,' he said.

'Serious questions needs to be asked. How long has this been going on for and how much money has Labour lost? And most importantly how is Labour going to get a grip of the problem?'

Officials underestimated the overall scale of benefits fraud by £300million last year, according to government figures highlighted by the Tories. Overall fraud also climbed by £300million in a year.