Prosecution serves as a reminder to benefit claimants

Shropshire Council’s public protection service is reminding housing benefit and council tax benefit claimants of their statutory duty to provide accurate information at the time they make a benefit claim, and 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 where Shropshire Council brought a case under the Social Security Administration Act 1992 against a 34-year-old benefit claimant, Jorge Guspan from Oswestry in Shropshire.  

Between 15 May 2006 and 21 June 2009, Guspan dishonestly failed to tell Shropshire Council that he owned another property and had additional bank accounts, whilst he was claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit.  This meant that he received housing benefit and council tax benefit that he was not entitled to totalling over £10,000. 

On 30 July 2013, Guspan pleaded guilty to housing benefit and council tax benefit offences at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court, and was sentenced to a 26-week custodial sentence for failing to declare he owned another property, and a further 16 weeks in respect of his failure to include the additional bank accounts in his claim; the custodial sentences run concurrently. 

Frances Darling, service manager for safer and stronger communities within public protection, said:

“We take the abuse of the benefits system very seriously and will not hesitate to investigate such cases.  In addition, we will prosecute where this is appropriate.  It is clear that the court, in sentencing Guspan, has supported the council’s decision to prosecute, and recognised the serious nature of the offences with the level of the penalty imposed.  The result sends a very clear message to benefit claimants; dishonesty within the benefits system will not be tolerated in Shropshire.” 

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for public protection, added:

“We have a duty to protect the public purse and to ensure that those members of our community who genuinely need financial assistance through the benefit system have the help and support they need.  I would remind people who claim benefits that it is their responsibility to not only provide accurate information to the council when they apply for benefits, but to ensure they declare promptly any change to their circumstances during the life of their claim.” 

Shropshire Council encourages individuals and businesses to contact its public protection service on 0345 678 9000 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. 

Benefits advice can be obtained from the council’s benefits options team on 01743 258922 or general advice can be found on our website here.