Seven convicted of benefit fraud at Belfast Court

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

A Belfast man (30) was given six months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to pay court costs of £22 for duplicate encashment of Incapacity Benefit totalling £196.

A Belfast woman (37) was fined £250 and ordered to pay court costs of £31 for failure to declare employment while claiming Job Seekers Allowance totalling £2,930.

A second Belfast woman (52) was fined £250 and ordered to pay court costs of £34 for failure to declare capital while claiming Income Support totalling £2,155.

Another Belfast woman (49) was given 75 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £31 for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £3,408.

A fourth Belfast woman (52) was given 75 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £31 for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £2,679.

Another woman from Belfast (43) was fined £400 and ordered to pay court costs of £147 for failure to declare capital while claiming Job Seekers Allowance totalling £6,906.

A sixth Belfast woman (42) was given 100 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £56 for failure to declare employment while claiming Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £10,855.

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