Legal News
Suspended sentence for £19,000 benefit fraud (11 January 2016)
Date: 11/01/2016
Selby District Council in North Yorkshire has successfully prosecuted a Tadcaster woman for benefit fraud, after she failed to declare to the council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that she had money in undisclosed bank accounts exceeding the capital limit for Housing and Council Tax Benefit.
At York Magistrates’ Court on 6 January 2016, Tracey Voutsidis of Cawood Crescent, Church Fenton in Tadcaster pleaded guilty to failing to declare the bank accounts and monies held in them on her claim for Housing and Council Tax Benefits, contrary to the Social Security Administration Act 1992.
She received an overpayment of Housing Benefit of £18,203.90 and Council Tax Benefit of £668.77.
Voutsidis received a two-year suspended sentence and was ordered to pay the council’s costs of £260.00 and a surcharge of £15.
The DWP is responsible for investigating Housing Benefit Fraud and urges people to report benefit fraud online or by telephone. The DWP says benefit fraud costs the UK £1.27 million annually.
Duncan Lewis Benefit Fraud Lawyers
Duncan Lewis benefit fraud lawyers can advise at any stage of a charge for benefit fraud, including benefit fraud charges relating to:
• Child Tax Credits
• Council Tax
• Disability Living Allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credits
• PIP
• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credits.
There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and a benefit fraud solicitor can attend interviews under caution with investigating authorities, such as the DWP and council fraud investigators.
For expert legal advice on benefit fraud, call Duncan Lewis benefit fraud solicitors on 0333 772 0409.