Woman Fined For Benefit Offence

A sixty-three-year-old woman received benefits of more than £7,691 she was not entitled to by not declaring income from her late husband's pension, magistrates in Lincoln were told.


Mrs. Barbara Sandars, of South View, Walesby, Market Rasen, admitted failing to declare her true circumstances whilst claiming housing and council tax benefits and was fined £185. She also has to pay £100 towards costs, a £15 surcharge and will have to repay the overpayment.

The prosecution was brought by West Lindsey District Council who told the Bench that the authority was alerted to a discrepancy in Mrs. Sandars's claim by differences in the information they held and her tax records.

An investigation began which revealed that an occupational pension was being paid to Mrs. Sandars from her late husband's employer and this had been the case since the outset of her claim.

Mrs. Sandars said that her late father had helped her with the claim form and he had told her that the pension did not count as it was unearned income, but she admitted that she did not check with the Council whether this was the case.

Benefit cheat is paying back more than £20,000

A mother of two, who is paying back more than £20,000 in benefits she was not entitled to, escaped a prison sentence.

 

Ms Kerry Codd 25, of Church Road, Bircotes, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates Court, to two counts of failing to notify of a change in circumstances, which affected her entitlement to housing and council tax benefit.

 

The prosecution was brought by West Lindsey District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions. The offence occurred when Ms Codd lived in Gainsborough.

 

Mr. David Payne, prosecuting said:

"The defendant failed to inform the affected bodies her partner had returned to live with her.

 

"He was in full time employment at the time, which was paid into a joint bank account."

The overpayment of £23,717.19 took place between 7th June 2004 to 31st October 2007.

 

It included the following:

• Income support - £10,020.87
• Housing benefit - £11,419.68
• Council tax benefit -£2,276.64

Defending, Mr. Lloyd Edwards, said she is paying back the overpayments. He said:

"She had a difficult time with her previous partner who left suddenly and reappeared on the scene.

 

"She was not sure he would stay and she delayed reporting it and delayed it."

 

Mr. Edwards explained she is with a new partner now and has two young children. He added:

"This was out of character."

District Judge, Richard Blake said:

"Many people are managing in the community on low income and not cheating on benefits.

 

"What you did was a cheat on the system.

 

"I accept it was to provide for your family and that you have done the best to make amends as you are paying it back."

He gave her 12 weeks in prison for each offence, suspended for a year. And a 12 month supervision order to run concurrently.

Benefit Cheat Must Repay £3,700

A Reepham man has to repay more than £3,700 in benefits he received when he was not entitled to them.
Mr. Norman Stanislawski, of Kennel Lane, Reepham pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates Court to failing to declare a change of circumstances which affected his entitlement to housing and council tax benefit.
In a prosecution brought by West Lindsey District Council, the court heard that the offence was discovered following a data matching exercise.

It revealed tax and national insurance payments had been made when Mr. Stanislawski had told the council he was not working.

At first, Mr. Stanislawski denied the offence. He later admitted he had been working and gave details of his own job, his wife's work and confirmed that working tax credits had also increased and he had not notified anyone.

Mr. Stanislawski was ordered to do sixty hours of unpaid community work and will have to pay £50 costs.
In line with council policy, he will also have to repay back the overpayment of £3,754.68.