30 Nov 2009

Cumbersome prosecution of benefit fraud

A Margate man has been sentenced to a 240 hour Community Service Order and ordered to re-pay £5,000 of benefits he had falsely claimed.

Tony Wooller pleaded guilty at Thanet Magistrates Court to not informing the council that he had had a pay increase and that he had completed overtime at the shop he worked at. As a result, he was overpaid £7,090 of Housing Benefit and £1,252 of Council Tax Benefit.

He was ordered to complete a Community Service Order of 240 hours over a 12 month period and was also ordered to pay £350 towards the prosecution costs.

A £5,000 Compensation Order was made by the Magistrates, which is the maximum they can award, although the full £8,342 is to be re-paid by Mr. Wooller.
  • Local authorities have estimated that benefit fraud costs each household £80-£100 a year.

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