National Fraud Initiative: public-sector data requirements
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-11)

This guide sets out the core (mandatory) datasets for public-sector bodies to provide to the National Fraud Initiative (NFI).

There are a number of specific data requirements for different parts of the public sector. Find out more about how to submit data securely through the NFI web application (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uploading-data-to-national-fraud-initiative) and about the separate data specifications (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-fraud-initiative-public-sector-data-specifications) required for each data set.

General guidance

Public-sector organisations should follow the requirements of the Code of Data Matching Practice 2018 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-data-matching-practice-for-national-fraud-initiative). Your Data Protection Officer should be able to provide more information about this.

You may also find the guide to Taking part in the National Fraud Initiative (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/taking-part-in-national-fraud-initiative) useful.

Central government

Although not mandatory, central government departments, agencies, and arm’s-length organisations can submit the following datasets:
- payroll
- trade creditors’ payment history and trade creditors’ standing data
Find out more about additional NFI services available to public-sector organisations. (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-fraud-initiative-additional-public-services)

Local government

Where possible, the NFI will collect data in bulk from the relevant organisation. For example, in England, data relating to housing benefits and students eligible for a loan will be collected from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Student Loans Company (SLC), respectively. Blue Badge data will be collected centrally from the Blue Badge Digital Service (BBDS).

Please note that:
- Council tax and Electoral Register data are required every year and run to a separate data submission timetable.
Councils, unitary authorities, and associated bodies

This sets out the mandatory data (where applicable) for London borough councils, Greater London Authorities and associated bodies, Metropolitan Borough Councils, county councils (including schools), unitary authorities, and district/borough councils (including any arm’s length management organisations and joint committees):
- payroll
- pensions
- trade creditors’ payment history and trade creditors’ standing data
- housing current tenants and right to buy
- housing waiting lists
- housing benefits (provided by the DWP)
- council tax reduction scheme
- council tax (required annually)
- electoral register (required annually)
- students eligible for a loan (provided by the SLC)
- transport passes and permits (including residents’ parking, blue badges, and concessionary travel)
- licences – taxi driver
- Residential care homes
- Personal budgets
Data should only be provided from agencies where it has been previously authorised by that organisation.

Combined authorities

Only payroll and trade creditor data is mandatory for Combined Authorities, however any other data held can be submitted on an optional basis.
- payroll
- trade creditors’ payment history and trade creditors’ standing data
- pensions
- concessionary passes
Passenger transport and waste authorities

These include passenger transport executives/authorities and waste regulation or disposal authorities. The mandatory datasets are:
- payroll
- pensions
- trade creditors’ payment history and trade creditors’ standing data
- concessionary travel passes (passenger transport executives only)
Police bodies, fire, and civil defence authorities

The mandatory datasets are:
- payroll
- pensions
- trade creditors’ payment history and trade creditors’ standing data
Pension authorities

The mandatory dataset for pension authorities is occupational pensions.

NHS

Special health authorities can participate in the NFI voluntarily. Find out more about the services that the NFI offers (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-fraud-initiative-additional-public-services).

If the NHS payroll provider submits data directly to the NFI on behalf of the NHS body, it is the NHS body’s responsibility to ensure that:
- the payroll provider receives full and timely instructions about this requirement
- employees are notified in line with privacy notice requirements (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fair-processing-national-fraud-initiative)
The mandatory datasets required are:
- payroll
- trade creditors’ payment history and trade creditors’ standing data
The NFI is seeking to source the trade creditors’ data directly from NHS SBS for Integrated Care Boards.

Pension schemes

The mandatory dataset for public-sector pension schemes is occupational pensions.