Five convicted of benefit fraud at Ballymena Court

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

The first was fined £100 and ordered to pay court costs of £37 for wrongful encashment of Incapacity Benefit totalling £196.

The second was given a one month prison sentence suspended for twelve months for claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £2,630 while failing to declare employment.

The third failed to declare employment while claiming Jobseekers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £3,537. She was given a one month prison sentence suspended for twelve months.

The fourth failed to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £10,015. She was given a four month prison sentence suspended for eighteen months.

And the fifth claimed Income Support totalling £3,251 while failing to declare his partner’s employment. He was given a one month prison sentence suspended for twelve months.

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

This brings to 400 the total number of successful prosecutions this year.