CHECKS are about to get underway in the district to make sure no one is claiming single person council tax discount fraudulently.

Adults living alone are currently eligible to a 25 per cent reduction and the Council currently awards the discount to more than 71,000 single-occupancy homes. This equated to more than £18 million in the last financial year.

It is now carrying out a review of its single persons discounts to make sure they are only being claimed by those entitled to them.

It is working with Northgate Public Services and will be writing to a number of those claiming the reduction to confirm their status at the property.

Martin Stubbs, assistant director for Revenues and Benefits said: “We believe most council tax discounts are claimed honestly and legitimately, and we know there are times when household circumstances change and people forget to tell us.

“However, people have a legal duty to tell the Council if they think they no longer qualify for a discount. Anyone who gets a single person discount, or any other Council Tax discount they think they are no longer entitled to, I would strongly urge them to contact us now.”

“It is in the best interest of residents to tell us as soon as they can, as any changes must be backdated, so householders do not benefit from withholding information from us.

“A delay in telling us could mean some households find that they have a considerable amount of council tax arrears to pay.”

Anyone unsure whether they qualify for the discount can get details from the Council’s website.

Among the information it states that if someone is away from the home for a short time and is still keeping belongings in the property it will still be classed as their main residence and anyone remaining in the home would not be entitled to a discount.

The website continues: “We have a duty to periodically review discounts for households where only one adult (a person over the age of 18) is resident. This would include written requests for information, data matching, telephone contact or visits to your home to check the information that you have provided.

“Failure to respond to the Council within 21 days of a written request for information will lead to a penalty charge of £70 being imposed.”

Supplying false information can lead to a criminal prosecution.