Cracking down on benefit fraud (From This is Hampshire)

Cracking down on benefit fraud

6:37am Wednesday 19th March 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

COUNCIL bosses are cracking down on those who claim benefits that they should not receive.

Winchester City Council has prosecuted 13 people successfully since April 2007.

They included a married couple who failed to declare thousands of pounds of income, and pocketed benefit cash during a two-year-period.

They worked for four different employers during that time, but still claimed housing and council tax benefit along with Jobseeker's Allowance.

They were overpaid more than £11,000, which they will have to repay in full. They also received a community punishment order, including 150 hours of unpaid work each.

Fraud investigators are able to monitor suspected offenders, including making checks on their bills and bank accounts. They work with councils, courts, police, and Government officials while following their leads.

City council benefits manager, Jane Petty, said: "The case highlighted here is a blatant example of people who receive wages through employment, but due to sheer greed have made a conscious decision to steal taxpayers' money."

The council has a fraud hotline - 01962 848173 - along with an anonymous line on 01962 848306 to leave tips about possible benefit cheats.