When do we get our money back?

Four benefits cheats from the Southend area have been brought to justice.

Nita Palmer, from Leigh, admitted two benefit fraud charges dating back to April 2007, and which came to a total of £34,230. She was sentenced to seven months in jail, suspended for two years and given an electronically monitored 130-day curfew order.

In a joint operation, Southend Council and the DWP discovered Palmer had failed to declare she worked more than 25 hours a week for Virtue Fusion. As a result, she had fraudulently received benefits she was not entitled to, worth £5,977 from the council, and £28,253 from the DWP.

"She has now made arrangements to pay back the overpayment to the council."

A Westcliff couple were sentenced to 150 hours’ community service and each ordered to pay £150 costs for dishonestly claiming up to £5,929 they were not entitled to.

Ryan Doney, and wife Theresa, formerly from Westcliff, admitted failing to report their change of circumstances and making false representations. Doney enrolled as a student, but then failed to tell the council he was receiving a student bursary, and therefore dishonestly received £2,052 in housing benefit.

He and his wife then failed to inform the council they had moved to Suffolk. They claimed their address was still in Westcliff, so they received an additional £3,301 housing benefit they were not entitled to, and £575 council tax benefit. "They will have to repay all their overpaid benefits."

Simon Patient, from Southend, admitted fraudulently claiming benefits worth £6,400 since April 2007. He was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and ordered to pay £150 towards costs. "This overpayment is being recovered from his ongoing benefit entitlement."

• A happy and productive new year to all our readers, and especially to our contributors.