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27 January 2010 - Seven convicted of benefit fraud at Belfast courts

Six people were convicted at Belfast Magistrates' Court and one at Belfast Crown Court yesterday for claiming benefits they were not entitled to.

The first was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court to 175 hours community service for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £21,143.

The second was given 75 hours community service over 12 months and ordered to pay £22 court costs for duplicate encashment of benefit cheques totalling £250.

The third was fined £400 and ordered to pay £40 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Housing Benefit and Incapacity Benefit totalling £1,515.

The fourth was given 22 hours community service and ordered to pay £59 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Housing Benefit totalling £6,948.

The fifth was fined £300 and ordered to pay £38 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £3,963.

The sixth was fined £300 and ordered to pay £39 court costs for failure to declare capital while claiming Income Support and Jobseekers Allowance totalling £3,307.

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

And the seventh was fined £300 and ordered to pay £68 court costs for failure to declare savings while claiming Jobseekers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £6,746. A compensation order of £6,035.30 was granted.

This brings to 42 the total number of successful prosecutions this year.


Department for Social Development News