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Fine for Council Tax support claimant who failed to declare husband’s income (2 November 2015)
Date: 02/11/2015
Bedfordshire County Council has prosecuted a benefit claimant who failed to declare that her husband was working when she applied for Council Tax support.
Janet Butler, 62, of Hawk Drive, Sandy in Bedfordshire admitted failing to declare that her husband was working when she applied for the benefit in July 2013.
An investigation by Central Bedfordshire Council identified that Mr Butler was working part time as a driver for an agency and had been for a number of years prior to his wife submitting the claim.
If Mrs Butler had declared her husband’s additional earnings, she would not have been entitled to a reduction in her Council Tax.
When interviewed by the council’s fraud investigator in March 2015, Mrs Butler said that she had not meant to deliberately defraud Central Bedfordshire, but acknowledged that she failed to declare her husband’s work.
She said that she had failed to do so as it was not regular income because his earnings varied from week to week.
On Wednesday (28/10/15) at Bedford Magistrates’ Court, Mrs Butler was fined £120 and was ordered to pay £500 towards the prosecution costs, with a £20 victim surcharge.
In total, Mrs Butler was overpaid £1,830.21 in Council Tax support, which she now has to repay.
After the hearing, Executive Member for Corporate Resources, Councillor Richard Wenham, said:
“Although Mrs Butler acknowledges that what she did was wrong, the fact is that by failing to declare her husband’s work, she was illegally claiming Council Tax support.
“Any fraud takes away money from others who genuinely need it, which is why we will always take action if we suspect any wrongdoing.”
Duncan Lewis Benefit Fraud Lawyers
Duncan Lewis benefit fraud lawyers can advise at any stage of a charge involving benefit fraud, including charges relating to failing to declare income, or failing to advise the Department of Work and Pensions or council benefits office of a change in circumstances.
There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and Duncan Lewis is a leading provider of Legal Aid services.
For expert legal advice on benefit fraud charges, call Duncan Lewis benefit fraud lawyers on 0333 772 0409.