Nine convicted of benefit fraud at Belfast Court

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

The first was given a three year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £34 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £9,948.

The second was given a two year conditional discharge for failure to declare capital while claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £13,684.

The third was fined £150 and ordered to pay £43 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Incapacity Benefit and Housing Benefit totalling £4,273.

The fourth was fined £200 and ordered to pay £34 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £4,066.

The fifth was fined £150 for wrongful encashment of Social Fund totalling £188.

The sixth was given a one year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £37 court costs for failure to declare capital while claiming Jobseekers Allowance totalling £4,057.

The seventh was given a two year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £37 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Incapacity Benefit totalling £3,212.

The eighth was given a two year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £43 court costs for failure to declare capital while claiming Income Support totalling £1,304.

And the ninth was given a three year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £40 court costs for failure to declare she was living with a partner while claiming Income Support totalling £10,733.

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

This brings to 339 the total number of successful prosecutions this year.