Eleven convicted of benefit fraud

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

A 27 year old man from Belfast was fined £350 and ordered to pay £31 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £2,047.

A 29 year old woman from Ballynahinch was fined £250 and ordered to pay £110 court costs for wrongful encashment of Income Support and Jobseekers Allowance totalling £425.

A 62 year old Belfast man Belfast was fined £350 and ordered to pay £34 court costs for failure to declare capital while claiming Income Support totalling £4,567.

A 33 year old Belfast woman was given 80 hours community service and ordered to pay £86 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £7,725.

A 50 year old Belfast man was fined £500 and ordered to pay £49 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £10,555.

A 29 year old Belfast woman was fined £300 and ordered to pay £31 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £3,649.

A 41 year old Belfast woman was fined £275 and ordered to pay £31 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £2,319.

A 21 year old Dunmurry man was given 100 hours community service and ordered to pay £37 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Jobseekers Allowance totalling £247.

A 49 year old man was given 100 hours community service for failure to declare capital while claiming Incomes Support and Rates Rebate totalling £13,920.

A 42 year old Carrickfergus woman was given 12 months probation and ordered to pay £43 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £15,875.

A 31 year old Belfast womant was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £34 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £12,549.

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