Counting the cost of benefit fraud
Published Wednesday 26th October 11 in Council - news and information releases news
Two people who lied to boost their benefits, are now paying the price for their dishonesty.
At Southend Magistrates Court on Wednesday 10th August, Anthony Paul, 33, of Victoria Road, Southend, admitted supplying false statements to obtain £5,307.48 worth of Housing Benefit he was not entitled to.
Magistrates ordered him to complete 240 hours of unpaid work, and to pay £80 towards court costs. He must also pay back the overpayment.
Mr Paul told Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Benefit staff, that he was a tenant, and needed housing benefit to pay his landlord.
To support his benefit claim, he showed a fictitious tenancy agreement and made-up rent receipts
However, the Council's Corporate Fraud Investigation Team discovered that Mr Paul had owned his own home since 2001.
In mitigation, he explained had lost his job and couldn't afford to meet the mortgage payments.
Meanwhile, at Southend Magistrates Court on Wednesday 12th October, Mr Keith Bucknill, 54, of Saxon Gardens, Sheoburyness, admitted making false statements which led to a £12,338.70 overpayment of Housing and Council Tax Benefits.
As well as having to pay this all back, he was also given an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 costs
Mr Bucknill was given both Housing and Council Tax Benefit after advising the Council that he received incapacity benefit.
However, the Housing and Council Tax benefits he was paid, were calculated on the basis of his false claims that he was not receiving private pension.
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Corporate Support Services, Councillor Andrew Moring said: "We are committed to paying benefits to those who are entitled to them.
"However, we also have a duty to protect the public purse and take action against those who commit benefit fraud.
"As these cases show, repayment of benefit is not the only action the Council may wish to take.
"In these difficult economic times, if people are having problems paying their mortgage, we would urge them to contact http://www.direct.gov.uk/ to find out what help may be available to them.
"Anyone with suspicions over a person's entitlement to benefit, can call the Corporate Fraud Investigation Team on 01702 215254 or email counterfraud@southend.gov.uk. All information received, is treated in the strictest confidence."