21st
Oct 2015
Once again a story has appeared of a couple who scammed benefits claiming to be tenant and landlord.
The partners lied about the woman being a ‘hard-up single mum’ and he was only her landlord and together they scammed more than £44,000 in benefits over five years.
The couple got away with a penal sentence however they have been ordered to repay their ill gotten gains in full.
The Crewe couple did receive a suspended prison sentence for two years and if conditions are broken then both will be jailed for 15 months.
Appearing before Chester Crown Court on October 2nd this year, the judge heard that the woman had claimed housing benefit, Council Tax benefit, income support and child tax credits from September 2008. She lied about her real status when speaking to the Cheshire East Council and stated that her partner was only the landlord.
The Cheshire East Council’s benefit investigation team with investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions eventually uncovered that her landlord was in fact her partner and was providing financial support.
The partner helped the woman by submitting a fraudulent rent document stating that he was her landlord to the council, to ensure that she received the benefits.
Admitting their guilt the extent of the fraud was £44,143 in benefits over five and a half years.
On top of the order to repay the whole sum and the suspended jail and sentence, the couple will have to complete 150 hours’ of community and unpaid work.
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