Suspected Fraud

[Fraudster]

Hi everyone!
I am new here in the group forum, I need a legal advice and help regarding my case.
I am living in a temporary council accommodation and receiving housing benefits and council tax reduction/ single person discount and on universal credit. I received a letter from the council that I have a duty to advise the local authority of any changes of circumstances which may affect my discount, a failure to do so may be an offender under the Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2013 Regulations, and/ or the Fraud Act 2006.

They made a credit checks and they have identified my other bank account. For the entitlement to be assessed correctly, I need to send all my bank accounts and capital within 3 months and confirm my employer and annual income.

My problem is, I have a cash on hand job which I deposit the money in my other bank account and savings too which I did not declare. I know this is dishonesty and fraud. Please can anyone with legal expertise and knowledge on how to resolve and handle my case. Kindly please help me with the best thing to do. I am only given a month calendar to submit everything to the council. Thank you very much and I appreciate your help.

[atticus]

Either you give full and honest disclosure or you do not. The latter course may have unwelcome consequences. Your choice of user name suggests that you know this.

[dslippy]

Difficult
The first decision is not to do anything to make it worse. You have a continuing duty to declare fuilly before claiming any benefit. Should you declare the assets and income now?
We do not know the amounts and time period involved, and someone will have access to recommended sentences.

Best of luck. You will get through this.

[echat11]

What you could do is contact CAB, or a solicitor who deals with such matters, as an alternative, the situation needs to be managed. So they are best placed to put any 'mitigation' factors forward, if there are any, but they have experience in this area.

[dslippy]

You have a right to be accompanied by a solicitor at any interview conducted with a view to prosecution. Make sure that that happens. Echat11 has it right, this just needs to be managed. It is a low level fraud - serious enough to warrant legal advice (free) at interview.