Legal News
Benefits Claimant Found Waitressing in Paris (20 September 2011)
Date: 20/09/2011
A British woman who fraudulently claimed thousands of pounds worth of welfare benefits was found working as a waitress in Paris. Sixty-two-year-old Florenze Brooks claimed that she was unable to walk long distances, could not sit for long periods, and was unable to turn over in bed. Yet Miss Brooks was found to be regularly travelling on coaches to Paris to work ten-hour shifts as a waitress at international air shows. Miss Brooks, from Yarm, North Yorkshire, received almost £7,000 in Income Support and Disability Allowance while in employment.
Miss Brooks admitted to two charges of failing to inform the Department for Work and Pensions of a change in circumstances and was handed a three-month jail sentence, suspended for one year. Judge Tony Briggs informed Miss Brooks that her actions were likely to be condemned by the public. Andrew Teate, mitigating, claimed that Miss Brooks had begun receiving benefits when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2006. However, he accepted that she had recovered sufficiently to enter into employment later that same year. Mr. Teate informed the court that Miss Brooks had applied for bankruptcy and still suffers from a range of ailments and is dependent on help from her family.
The welfare benefits solicitors at Duncan Lewis understand that navigating the welfare benefits system can be complex. Their expert team are able to explain the benefits system in full and are able to assess a client’s eligibility for benefits. The department specialises in representing claimants before social security appeals and tribunals including those who are caught committing a benefit fraud offence.