Major Use of Dead People’s Freedom Passes Exposed

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Council announce crackdown as checks reveal over 700 being used fraudulently

Hounslow Council have cancelled over seven hundred Freedom Passes after checks revealed that they were being used by someone else after the owner died.

They estimate that around £11, 000 is lost annually to the Council when people fraudulently use Freedom Passes that don’t belong to them.

Following the 755 mis-used passes being identified by the National Fraud Initiative and forwarded by London Councils, Hounslow Council has cancelled these earlier this month. Anyone caught using a pass in this way could also face prosecution.

Residents can report when a pass is no longer required due to a person being deceased via the Tell Us Once Service https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once

Councillor Kamaljit Kaur, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Services, Hounslow Council, said, “Using a Freedom Pass that doesn’t belong to you is fraud, as simple as that. It is very easy to report when a pass is no longer required and we urge residents to do that.

“Sadly the situation as to why the pass is no longer needed is mainly due to a person passing away, which we know is a difficult time for the family and friends of that resident and that will always be respected. But we do need to know by law that it is no longer in use by that person.“

Overall the Council provide 3,806 Disabled Persons Freedom Passes and 33,636 Older Persons Freedom Passes to residents across the borough.

 

April 24, 2017