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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Expat benefits cheats soak up sun | Expat benefits cheats soak up sun |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| By Jenny Hill BBC News | By Jenny Hill BBC News |
| Life on the Costa del Fraud | Life on the Costa del Fraud |
| The government says benefit fraud by people living abroad costs UK taxpayers £63 million a year - and is extending a hotline scheme to report them. | The government says benefit fraud by people living abroad costs UK taxpayers £63 million a year - and is extending a hotline scheme to report them. |
| BBC Breakfast went to Benalmadena, near Malaga in Spain, to find out more about the practice. | BBC Breakfast went to Benalmadena, near Malaga in Spain, to find out more about the practice. |
| Every year thousands of visitors come to enjoy the sparkling coastline and bright sunshine. | Every year thousands of visitors come to enjoy the sparkling coastline and bright sunshine. |
| And many of the people who live here are British pensioners who have decided to retire abroad. | And many of the people who live here are British pensioners who have decided to retire abroad. |
| The streets are lined with English bars and restaurants and it is easy to pick out the expats sitting in the afternoon sun enjoying a beer. | The streets are lined with English bars and restaurants and it is easy to pick out the expats sitting in the afternoon sun enjoying a beer. |
| But this is also where the benefit cheats hide. | But this is also where the benefit cheats hide. |
| We came to the Costa del Sol to investigate claims that some of those British expats are claiming UK benefits to which they are not entitled. | We came to the Costa del Sol to investigate claims that some of those British expats are claiming UK benefits to which they are not entitled. |
| They're leeches on both societies Michel Euesden, Euro Weekly News | They're leeches on both societies Michel Euesden, Euro Weekly News |
| One man near Marbella said he had lived in Spain for years and had found it easy to fund his lifestyle with illegal handouts. | One man near Marbella said he had lived in Spain for years and had found it easy to fund his lifestyle with illegal handouts. |
| He explained how he got help after answering an advert in a newspaper that offered to help people fill in claim forms. | He explained how he got help after answering an advert in a newspaper that offered to help people fill in claim forms. |
| "The clue of getting benefits was to fill in the forms properly, to know what to put down. And he had a business where he filled the forms in for you. He got you not only your benefits but back pay as well." | "The clue of getting benefits was to fill in the forms properly, to know what to put down. And he had a business where he filled the forms in for you. He got you not only your benefits but back pay as well." |
| Expats are allowed to claim some UK benefits like pensions and heating allowance. | Expats are allowed to claim some UK benefits like pensions and heating allowance. |
| But in Benalmadena some business owners and residents say many people make false claims too. The majority of the people said they knew of someone who cheated the system. | But in Benalmadena some business owners and residents say many people make false claims too. The majority of the people said they knew of someone who cheated the system. |
| Dancing claimants | Dancing claimants |
| Steven Philips runs a sports bar. He said: "I know people who own houses - council houses - and rent them out." | Steven Philips runs a sports bar. He said: "I know people who own houses - council houses - and rent them out." |
| In another bar down the road Gary Marsh says: "There's people I know who claim disability allowance who certainly go into the local offices in wheelchairs, who you see down here dancing in the winter months." | In another bar down the road Gary Marsh says: "There's people I know who claim disability allowance who certainly go into the local offices in wheelchairs, who you see down here dancing in the winter months." |
| The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) claims that so-called "abroad fraud" costs the UK taxpayer £63m a year. | The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) claims that so-called "abroad fraud" costs the UK taxpayer £63m a year. |
| Officials do not know how many people are making illegal claims or where they all live, but they believe the majority are in Spain. | Officials do not know how many people are making illegal claims or where they all live, but they believe the majority are in Spain. |
| Martin Fitches from the DWP told us "There are one million people here and the vast majority are law-abiding - so we're working with them to catch the people who are stealing British taxpayers' money." | Martin Fitches from the DWP told us "There are one million people here and the vast majority are law-abiding - so we're working with them to catch the people who are stealing British taxpayers' money." |
| Gary Marsh says some people claiming disability are later seen dancing in bars | Gary Marsh says some people claiming disability are later seen dancing in bars |
| The DWP has extended its hotline scheme and hopes residents will report their suspicions. | The DWP has extended its hotline scheme and hopes residents will report their suspicions. |
| Originally set up in Alicante, it will now cover the Costa Del Sol and the Canary Islands. | Originally set up in Alicante, it will now cover the Costa Del Sol and the Canary Islands. |
| Many people may well get in touch. At the Euro Weekly News they have lost count of the letters they receive complaining about benefit cheats. | Many people may well get in touch. At the Euro Weekly News they have lost count of the letters they receive complaining about benefit cheats. |
| The weak pound has affected most expats in the area and those struggling to exist on a devalued UK pension are angry. | The weak pound has affected most expats in the area and those struggling to exist on a devalued UK pension are angry. |
| The owner of the paper, Michel Euesden, said: "They're leeches on both societies and it's not for the Spanish government to stop them. It's for [the UK] government to stop them." | The owner of the paper, Michel Euesden, said: "They're leeches on both societies and it's not for the Spanish government to stop them. It's for [the UK] government to stop them." |
| Just last month a British couple were jailed for claiming benefits while they sailed round the world in a luxury yacht. | Just last month a British couple were jailed for claiming benefits while they sailed round the world in a luxury yacht. |
| The case was widely reported but seems to have had little impact as a deterrent in Spain. | The case was widely reported but seems to have had little impact as a deterrent in Spain. |
| As one benefit cheat admitted: "Everyone else is doing it - why shouldn't I?" | As one benefit cheat admitted: "Everyone else is doing it - why shouldn't I?" |