One rule for them, another for the working class punter.
Benefits claimant fined for fraud
Once again the court has signalled that benefit fraud
will be dealt with firmly in a case at Dumfries Sheriff
Court this week.
Nicola Rae aged 30 of Mossvale, Lochmaben was fined
£400 following a joint investigation between the
Department of Work and Pensions and Dumfries and
Galloway Council.
Nicola Rae admitted that she failed to advise both
organisations that she was employed by a cleaning
company. This resulted in her obtaining Income
Support of £1667.30, Housing Benefit of £359.53,
and Council Tax Benefit of £127.67 to which
she was not entitled. She is currently paying back the
overpayment and in addition has to pay the fine.
Dumfries and Galloway Council takes benefit theft
very seriously. Although the vast majority of people
who claim benefits are honest, those who commit
benefit theft are picking the pockets of law-abiding
taxpayers.
The latest government estimate (2008/09) is that
£900 million is lost from public funds every year through
all benefit fraud. Fraud in Housing Benefit is estimated
to cost £210 million every year.
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