Five convicted of benefit fraud at Belfast Court

Five people were convicted at Belfast Magistrates’ Court today for claiming benefits they were not entitled to.

A Belfast woman was given 50 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £22 for wrongful encashment of Job Seekers Allowance totalling £76.

Another Belfast woman was given 100 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £43 for failure to declare she was living with a partner while claiming Income Support totalling £12,261.

Another Belfast woman was fined £300 for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £2,889.

Another Belfast woman was fined £250 and ordered to pay court costs of £40 for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £2,090.

Another Belfast woman was given 80 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £62 for failure to declare employment while claiming Job Seekers allowance totalling £2,322.

All are also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.