Four convicted of benefit fraud at Belfast Court

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

One Belfast woman was given 75 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £22 for wrongful encashment of Jobseekers Allowance totalling £342.

A second Belfast woman was given 150 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £52 for failing to declare employment while claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £3,568.

A man from Belfast was given 80 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £34 for failing to declare employment while claiming Jobseekers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £2,049.

Another Belfast woman was given a £150 fine and ordered to pay court costs of £31 for failing to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £3,614.

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