Four convicted of benefit fraud at Belfast court

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

A Belfast man was given 150 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £19 for wrongful encashment of Income Support totalling £986.

Another 36 year old man of Donegall Road, Belfast was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay court costs of £37 for failure to declare employment while claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £4,519.

A 25 year old woman of Iris Drive, Belfast was given a £300 fine and ordered to pay court costs of £86 for failure to declare employment while claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £2,538.

A 64 year old woman was bound over to keep the peace for 12 months and signed a declaration regarding a £250 bounty for exaggerated incapacity while claiming Disability Living Allowance totalling £3,398.

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