Lanzarote Information

The UK Government are campaigning hard to find British benefit claimants whilst living or travelling abroad. The Department for Work and Pensions have launched a special campaign against Benefit Thieves Abroad which includes translating their website into Spanish and setting up a special hotline in Spain.

The government estimate that during the financial year 2007-2008 £44m was lost in fraudulent benefit claims paid to British citizens who are either living abroad or travelling outside the UK and they don’t want to continue funding these overseas lifestyles. The government want to make it easy for benefit thieves to be reported, they now have a special UK Benefit Fraud Hotline in Spain which is 900 554 440 and open from 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday – these calls are free and confidential, alternatively you can report a benefit thief by completing a form online.

Their website gives some examples of cases where the claimant could just be taking a holiday but is required to inform them, such as:

If you’re on income support and stay abroad for more than four weeks;

If you’re claiming jobseekers allowance and take any holiday abroad for any length of time;

If you’re a pensioner claiming pension credit and will be away for more than thirteen weeks;

For more information and advice either contact the office that pays your benefits, or see the Government’s website information for Britons Living Abroad.