Eight people convicted of benefit fraud at Belfast court

Eight people were convicted at Belfast Magistrates Court yesterday for claiming benefits they were not entitled to.

The first one was given a six month sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay court costs of £31 for wrongful encashment of Income Support totalling £515.

The next was fined £400 and ordered to pay court costs of £31 for failing to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £5,555.

This Belfast woman was fined £300 and ordered to pay court costs of £43 for failing to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £5,986.

Another Belfast woman was given 75 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £32 for failing to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £6,877.

The next  Belfast woman was fined £300 fine and ordered to pay court costs of £49 for failing to declare employment while claiming Rates, Incapacity Benefit and Housing Benefit totalling £18,029.

Then this Belfast woman was fined £300 and ordered to pay court costs of £31 for failing to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £2,550.

A Newtownabbey man was fined £200 and ordered to pay court costs of £42 for failing to declare employment while claiming Jobseekers Allowance and Income Support totalling £489.

And finally a Carrickfergus woman was fined £300 and ordered to pay court costs of £37 for failing to declare employment while claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £1,827.

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