Data matching nabs benefits thief

A Barking man who concealed savings of just under £24,000 when he applied for housing and council tax benefits was handed a four-month suspended jail sentence.

Suntharamoorthy Ponnampalam must wear an electronic tag for four months and pay Barking and Dagenham costs of £1,104.14. The jail sentence was suspended for 12 months.

Ponnampalam, 56, submitted three benefit claims to the council in April 2006, March 2007 and October 2007 and failed to declare that he had just under £24,000 in capital in three Barclays bank accounts. In his first claim, he denied having a bank account, though declaring a Lloyds TSB bank account in the subsequent claims.

A government data match alerted the council’s benefit fraud investigation team to the irregularity. The total overpaid benefit was £11,224.

After an investigation, Ponnampalam pleaded guilty to four counts of dishonestly making false statements or representation contrary to section 111A(1)(a) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 at Havering Magistrates’ Court on January 6 this year. He was sentenced on January 13.

• Benefit thieves do it for the money. So hit them in the pocket. It was money that motivated them, and a financial penalty will help to deter them.
  
  Everyone convicted of benefit fraud who doesn't go to prison should have to do unpaid work.
  
  Benefit thieves should also have to repay twice what they've stolen, and should know they won't be eligible for any further benefits – including tax credits - until they have. A confiscation order should be automatic and immediate.
  
  If you don't punish people who are convicted of an easy crime, the offence will continue to look attractive.