West MP calls for crackdown on benefits 'sickfluencers'

Social media users who encourage benefit fraud should go to jail, the House of Commons was told. Richard Wheeler, Claudia Savage and Harry Taylor report

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SO-CALLED “sickfluencers” on social media should face lengthy prison sentences for helping people fraudulently claim benefits, according to the Conservatives.

Westcountry Tory MP Rebecca Smith said legislation should be amended to “tackle the rise” of those who post videos on TikTok and YouTube to show people how they might be able to make fraudulent claims for benefits, including the personal independence payment.

Ms Smith told the Commons: “Advice offered can include using specific buzzwords and providing template claims on guidance on passing questions at the interview stage to fraudulently inflate the value of claims.

“We do not want to target people who are providing genuine advice and guidance to people about how the welfare system and other public authorities work. That is very different from providing assistance and encouragement to commit fraud which is not acceptable.”

The Opposition has proposed amending the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill to create an “offence of fraud against a public authority” which could result in a prison term of up to 10 years.