Benefit Fraud Cases 2010 - 11

Recent Prosecutions

• A woman who was claiming Housing and Council Tax benefit as a single parent failed to notify that her husband had returned to the household 18 months previously. He worked full time. In addition she failed to inform us that her Tax Credit payments had changed, resulting in £4933.27 Housing Benefit and £1426.16 Council Tax Benefit being overpaid. She was sentenced to a 6 month community order and a 6 month curfew.

• A gentleman was ordered to pay a £100 fine and £400 costs for claiming £8196.77 in Housing Benefit which he was not entitled to. He had failed to disclose that he was in receipt of two occupational pensions and also had savings.

• Following a joint investigation into a man’s claim for benefit it was discovered that he had failed to promptly notify that he had started work, resulting in an overpayment of £3228.06. He received a 2 year conditional discharge.

• A woman who was prosecuted in 2008 for failing to declare changes in her circumstances was prosecuted again for failing to declare that she had been working. The court ordered her to pay £250 in costs, undertake 120 hours of community service and imposed a 3 month curfew.

• A man was jointly prosecuted by Poole Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions for making false statements in order to obtain benefits that he was not entitled to. He failed to declare on his application forms that he was working. He was overpaid £7138.45. He was sentenced to 220 hours community order over 12 months and ordered to pay £75 in costs.

• Magistrates imposed a 12 month conditional discharge, £75 costs and a 20 day activity & skills course to a woman who had failed to declare that she had been working part time. She had been overpaid £4003.27 in benefits.

• A woman failed to notify that she was living together with her partner and had also made false statements to Poole Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions as she failed to disclose the partner in the household on application forms. She failed to attend any of the appointments to be interviewed and assistance was eventually sought from the Police. She was overpaid £18167.19 in Housing and Council Tax Benefit and £28608.08 in other benefits. She received a 3 month custodial sentence.

• Benefits amounting to £10538.95 were overpaid to a lady who failed to tell us her husband had returned to the household. The court sentenced her to a 12 month conditional discharge.

*Please note that in addition to the above sentences all overpayments are recovered.