St Albans man prosecuted for £16.7k benefit fraud
A St Albans man pleaded guilty to benefit fraud at a hearing at St Albans Magistrates Court on Wednesday 3 June 2015. He will now have a criminal record in addition to having to refund the overpayment.
The man failed to notify St Albans City and District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that he had married his landlady in June 2010. As a result he received overpayments of £16,793 in Housing Benefit, Income Support, and Employment and Support Allowance.
Benefits are affected if a person’s circumstances change. For example, if a lodger claiming benefits then marries or lives with their landlady as husband and wife. Where people fail to notify the relevant authorities that their circumstances have changed, they can be prosecuted for claiming benefits dishonestly.
Action was taken against the man for overpayment of:
• Housing Benefit of £11,992.45 for the period June 2010 to September 2013.
Action was also taken against him for overpayments of:
• Income Support of £4,047.31 for the period 14/12/2010 to 20/05/2013;
• Employment and Support Allowance of £753.90 for the period 21/05/2013 to 02/09/2013.
The total combined overpayment amount is £16,793.66.
St Albans City and District Council and the DWP carried out a joint investigation into the case. He was prosecuted under Section 112 of the Social
Security Administration Act 1992 for failing to give prompt notification of a change in his circumstances.
Cllr Brian Ellis, Portfolio Holder for Housing, St Albans City and District Council, said: “This prosecution shows that the Council will work with the DWP to take action against benefit fraud if there is evidence to show that people have made false claims about their circumstances. Where this is proven and there has been an overpayment of benefit, the DWP will do everything it can to recover the sums involved.”
When applying for Housing Benefit claimants declare they will inform the Council of any changes in circumstances. The form used also warns
claimants of the implications of making a false statement in order to obtain benefit.
Benefit fraud can be reported to the DWP in confidence by phoning the National Fraud hotline on 0800 854 440 or online at www.gov.uk/reportbenefit-
fraud.
Councillor contact:
Cllr Brian Ellis, Portfolio Holder for Housing, St Albans City and District Council, Tel: 01582 767621
Contact for the media:
Ruth Boyer, Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819316
E-mail: ruth.boyer@stalbans.gov.uk
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