Social Security Administration Act 1992

112 False representations for obtaining benefit etc U.K.

(1) If a person for the purpose of obtaining any benefit or other payment under the [F1 relevant] [F2 social security legislation] whether for himself or some other person, or for any other purpose connected with that legislation—

(a) makes a statement or representation which he knows to be false; or

(b) produces or furnishes or knowingly causes or knowingly allows to be produced or furnished, any document or information which he knows to be false in a material particular,

he shall be guilty of an offence.

[F3 (1A) A person shall be guilty of an offence if—

(a) there has been a change of circumstances affecting any entitlement of his to any benefit or other payment or advantage under any provision of the relevant social security legislation;

(b) the change is not a change that is excluded by regulations from the changes that are required to be notified;

(c) he knows that the change affects an entitlement of his to such a benefit or other payment or advantage; and

(d) he fails to give a prompt notification of that change in the prescribed manner to the prescribed person.

(1B) A person is guilty of an offence under this section if—

(a) there has been a change of circumstances affecting any entitlement of another person to any benefit or other payment or advantage under any provision of the relevant social security legislation;

(b) the change is not a change that is excluded by regulations from the changes that are required to be notified;

(c) he knows that the change affects an entitlement of that other person to such a benefit or other payment or advantage; and

(d) he causes or allows that other person to fail to give a prompt notification of that change in the prescribed manner to the prescribed person.

(1C) In a case where subsection (1C) of section 111A above applies, the recipient is guilty of an offence if—

(a) he knows that the change affects an entitlement of the claimant to a benefit or other payment or advantage under a provision of the relevant social security legislation;

(b) the entitlement is one in respect of which he has a right to receive payments to which the claimant has, or (but for the arrangements under which they are payable to the recipient) would have, an entitlement; and

(c) he fails to give a prompt notification of that change in the prescribed manner to the prescribed person.

(1D) In a case where that subsection applies, a person other than the recipient is guilty of an offence if—

(a) he knows that the change affects an entitlement of the claimant to a benefit or other payment or advantage under a provision of the relevant social security legislation;

(b) the entitlement is one in respect of which the recipient has a right to receive payments to which the claimant has, or (but for the arrangements under which they are payable to the recipient) would have, an entitlement; and

(c) he causes or allows the recipient to fail to give a prompt notification of that change in the prescribed manner to the prescribed person.

(1E) Subsection (1F) of section 111A above applies in relation to subsections (1C) and (1D) above as it applies in relation to subsections (1D) and (1E) of that section.

(1F) For the purposes of subsections (1A) to (1D) above a notification of a change is prompt if, and only if, it is given as soon as reasonably practicable after the change occurs.]

(2) A person guilty of an offence under [F4 this section] shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both.

F5 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in s. 112(1) inserted (2.4.2001) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86, Sch. 6 para. 6; S.I. 2001/1252, art. 2(1)(a)

F2 Words in s. 112(1) substituted (1.7.1997) by Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997 (c. 47), s. 25(1), Sch. 1 para. 4(2); S.I. 1997/1577, art. 2, Sch.

F3 S. 112(1A)-(1F) substituted for s. 112(1A) (26.9.2001 for specified purposes, 18.10.2001 in so far as not already in force) by Social Security Fraud Act 2001 (c. 11), ss. 16(3), 20(1); S.I. 2001/3251, art. 2(1)

F4 Words in s. 112(2) substituted (1.7.1997) by Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997 (c. 47), s. 25(1), Sch. 1 para. 4(3); S.I. 1997/1577, art. 2, Sch.

F5 S. 112(3) repealed (2.4.2001) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86, Sch. 9 Pt. VI; S.I. 2001/1252, art. 2(1)(e)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 112 applied (with modifications) by The Welfare Food Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1434), regs. 1, 22(1), Sch. 6 (as amended (28.11.2005) by S.I. 2005/3262, regs. 1, 16(d)(i)(e)(ii))

C2 S. 112 applied (with modifications) (12.8.2019) by The Welfare Foods (Best Start Foods) (Scotland) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/193), regs. 1(2), 17 (as amended by S.S.I. 2019/232, regs. 1, 4)

C3 S. 112 applied (with modifications) (21.3.2021) by The Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (S.S.I. 2021/82), regs. 1(2), 21