Prosecuted for benefit fraud
Allerdale Borough Council has prosecuted a
Wigton woman for fraudulently claiming over £2,000 in council tax
benefit.
On 23 November 2011, North Cumbria Magistrates
heard how Janice Maxwell, 61, of Highmoor Park, Wigton, had claimed
council tax benefit since 2003. During the period of her claim Mrs
Maxwell declared several changes in her circumstances to the
Council. However in March 2011, the Council received information
from the Housing Benefit Matching Service which suggested that Mrs
Maxwell had savings which she had not declared.
When interviewed, Mrs Maxwell admitted she had
failed to declare the true amount of her savings and it was also
established that Mrs Maxwell was in receipt of an occupational
pension following the death of her partner which she had also not
declared.
Enquiries established that Mrs Maxwell held
savings in excess of the £16,000 limit since May 2008 and that she
had failed to declare this to the Council. On her benefit
application form dated 25 November 2008, Mrs Maxwell stated she
held capital of £2,897.40 whereas the actual amount held was
£36,607.90. On her benefit application dated 19 November 2009, she
stated she held capital of £3,898.07; the true figure was
£31,645.05.
In a second interview, Mrs Maxwell admitted to
Council officers that she had not been forthcoming in her initial
interview, stating: “I thought you would find out anyway … I
thought I would let you get on with it … I will leave it to you,
you’ll find out what I have got.” The failure to advise the Council
of her true capital resulted in enquiries with various financial
institutions which took five months to complete.
As a result of failing to declare her true
income and capital, Janice Maxwell was overpaid council tax benefit
amounting to £2,221.61. At court, Mrs Maxwell pleaded guilty and
was fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £386.75 and a victim
surcharge of £15. The overpaid benefit has been recovered.
Members of the public who suspect benefit
fraud is being committed can call Allerdale Borough Council’s
24-hour Benefit Fraud Hotline in confidence on 0800 169 5119 or
complete, anonymously, an online form at www.allerdale.gov.uk/benefitfraud