Benefit Fraud Weekly Review – 29 June 2009
Strabane woman receives 12 month prison sentence.
At Dungannon crown court last week a Strabane woman was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 2 years. She had failed to declare her work to the Department resulting in overpayments totalling just under £60,000. The woman was working whilst claiming Income Support and Carers Allowance.
The same offence had a 61 year old woman in Craigavon court. She was sentenced to 200 hours Community Service and incurred an overpayment of £32,207.60. This money must be repaid to the Department.
At Londonderry crown court a 54 year old woman was sentenced to 120 hours Community Service for failing to declare her capital to the Department. Her overpayment totalled over £40,000. A further 235 hours Community Service were handed out at Belfast court when a man and woman were sentenced for not declaring their employment whilst another woman did not report her partner working.
Meanwhile at Lisburn court a 63 year old man received a 6 month probation order for failing to declare his capital to the Department. His overpayment amounted to nearly £5,000 which must be repaid to the Department.
Despite only 7 convictions last week overpayments involved in these convictions amounted to over £160,000.00. All this money will be recovered by the Department.
The total number of cases convicted through the courts in 2009 is now 231.
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