£15k benefit fraud busted
A benefit cheat has been brought before the courts after they were found to have illegally claimed more than £15,700 of tax payers’ money.
Following a joint investigation by Dartford Borough Council and the Department for Work & Pensions a benefit claimant from Dartford was found to have fraudulently claimed £9,320.30 Housing Benefit, £1568.38 Council Tax Benefit and £4883.45 Job Seekers Allowance.
The investigation established that the benefit claimant had submitted claims for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Job Seekers Allowance in November 2009 as a single person, when in fact, they were residing with their partner who was in full-time employment. The claimant tried to hide the fact that they had a partner by submitting a false tenancy agreement, in their sole name, when the true tenancy was held in joint names.
Enquiries revealed that the claimant’s circumstances changed again in September 2010 when they started to receive an income for being a student and again this fact was not declared to the relevant benefit authorities.
The claimant pleaded guilty to benefit fraud at Dartford Magistrates Court on 15th February 2012 and was handed a community punishment order of 120 hours unpaid work to be completed over a 12 month period. The court awarded £100 towards the prosecution costs. The defendant was told that any breach of this order would result in them being brought back before the court.
The court took into account the claimant’s early guilty plea, their obvious regret at the course of action they took and the fact that they had already started repaying the debts incurred.
Dartford Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions are actively seeking repayment of the whole debt.
If a member of the public suspects a case of benefit fraud then they can contact the Council’s Anti-Fraud Team, in complete confidence, on 0800 496 3245.
ENDS
