pursuing benefit fraud
Press Release
2 February 2012
We have secured another
successful benefit fraud prosecution. Benefit Fraud is taken
very seriously and the Council has a strong record of successful
benefit investigations over the last year, reinforcing our
commitment to pursue benefit fraudsters.
Mr Michael Potter of
Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray was convicted at Leicester Magistrates
Court on Friday 23rd December 2011 when he pleaded
guilty to failing to declare changes in his circumstances in order
to secure more Housing Benefit by not declaring he had started
work, despite having received a previous caution for the same
offence. This lead to an amount of £516.93 being falsely claimed on
this occasion. Mr Potter was fined £100.00 and ordered to pay
a victim surcharge fee of £15.00 and the Council were awarded costs
of £300.00, this is in addition to having to repay the
£516.93.
Committing
benefit fraud affects everyone. Benefits are in place to
help the most vulnerable people in our society; particularly even
more important bearing in mind the difficult times the residents of
the Borough are experiencing during the current economic situation
and those who deliberately set out to cheat the system will be
dealt with accordingly.
Cllr David Wright
Chairman of the Community and Social Affairs Committee said:
‘We as a Council are
committed to reduce fraud and error within the Housing and Council
Tax Benefit system – in addition to the this prosecution we have
issued 17 other sanctions since April this year as a result of
successful investigations identifying another £28,424.06 of falsely
claimed Benefit’
Melton Borough Council
has various options they can take when they have sufficient
evidence that a person is committing benefit fraud these are:
- Issue a written warning
- Issue a formal caution
- Issue an Administrative Penalty – this is a financial penalty
calculated as 30% of the amount that has been overpaid
- Prosecute
Whatever action
is taken any money that has been overpaid must be
repaid.
If you know of someone
who is claiming benefit to which they are not entitled please call
the confidential Benefit Hotline on: 0800 028 2196.
~ends~
For more information please
contact:
Ronan Browne
People Team Manager
Melton Borough Council
01664 502502 rbrowne@melton.gov.uk
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