Prosecution serves as a reminder to benefit claimants

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

The advice follows a successful prosecution on 27 November 2014 where Shropshire Council brought a case under the Social Security Administration Act 1992 against a benefit claimant, Debirah Lazarus, 52, from Oswestry.

Debirah Lazarus claimed housing benefit and council tax support, but failed to report to Shropshire Council that her husband had returned to paid work after a period of sickness.  This meant that between 3 December 2010 and 6 June 2013 they benefited from over £6,000 to which they were not entitled.

Debirah Lazarus had pleaded guilty to the offences.  The Magistrates commented that she had robbed the local community of funds that genuine claimants were entitled to, and that her ill health did not justify her failure to comply with her responsibilities as a benefit claimant.  The Court sentenced her to 4 months imprisonment (suspended for 2 years), a Probation Supervisory Order for a period of 12 months (with a provision for rehabilitation) and ordered her to pay £400 towards Shropshire Council’s costs.  Debirah Lazarus will also be liable to pay back the monies they were 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:

“From this case, whilst £6,047.87 overpaid benefit related to the specific offence period, a total amount of £6,305.01 had been claimed when the claimants were 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, finance and support, 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/.