Prosecution serves as a reminder to benefit claimants

Shropshire Council’s benefits service is reminding housing benefit and council tax support claimants of their statutory duty to promptly notify the council’s benefits service of changes in circumstances that might affect their entitlement to these benefits.

The advice follows a successful prosecution on Wednesday 10 September 2014 where Shropshire Council brought a case under the Social Security Administration Act 1992 against benefit claimant Melanie Upton from Oswestry.

Mrs Upton, 42, claimed housing benefit, but failed to notify Shropshire Council that her earnings had increased.  This meant that between 7 November 2011 and 19 May 2013 she benefited from £2,993.17 to which she was not entitled.

Mrs Upton pleaded guilty to the offence and the Magistrates Court sentenced her to a twelve-month Community Order comprising 50 hours unpaid work and ordered her to pay £800 costs to Shropshire Council.  Mrs Upton will also be liable to pay back the monies that she was not entitled to.

Investigation officers are reminding benefit claimants that they must declare the correct information at the time of their application, and notify any changes in circumstances at the time they occur to avoid breaches of benefit legislation.

Jessica Taylor, benefits manager, said:

“In this case, whilst around £3,000 of overpaid benefit related to the specific offence period between 7 November 2011 and 19 May 2013, there was in fact a total of over £4,000 that had been claimed when the claimant was not entitled to this money; it is simply not acceptable for anyone to do this.  It is the responsibility of people claiming housing benefit and council tax support to declare any income or capital to the council plus any subsequent changes to their circumstances.  Where people fail to do this, the council will investigate the matter and will require the money to be repaid.  In addition, we will not hesitate to prosecute where this is appropriate.”

Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for resources and finance, added:

“I hope this sends a clear message to others that fraudsters will be caught and punished.

“This is not a victimless crime, as fraudulently-claimed benefits take money out of the pockets of every hard working taxpayer, as well as the people who genuinely need support to make ends meet.

“I strongly urge all claimants to provide the benefits service with accurate claim information at all times, and to promptly provide any changes to their circumstances that may affect their entitlement to benefits.”

Shropshire Council encourages people to contact its benefits service on 0345 678 9001 if they have any suspicions that offences may be being committed.  Information can be given anonymously, and will always be treated in line with the council’s information governance policies.

General benefits advice can be found on our website at http://shropshire.gov.uk/benefits/benefits-advice/