Eight people convicted of benefit fraud at Belfast Court

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

The first was given 80 hours community service and ordered to pay £49 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, and Housing Benefit totalling £9,712.

The second was given a 12 month probabtion order and ordered to pay £28 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £8,660.

The third was given 200 hours community service and ordered to pay £34 court costs for non disclosure of capital while claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £9,310.

The fourth was given a £250 fine and ordered to pay £31 court costs for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £2,946.

The fifth was given 120 hours community service and ordered to pay £66 court costs for duplicate encashment of Jobseeker's Allowance totalling £212.

The sixth was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay court costs of £22 for wrongful encashment of New Deal totalling £113.

The seventh was given 75 hours community service and ordered to pay £44 court costs for duplicate encashment of Jobseeker's Allowance totalling £81.

And the eighth was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay court costs of £24 for failure to declare capital while claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £16,251.

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

This brings to 293 the total number of successful prosecutions this year.