Benefits prosecutions
A public record exists of successful prosecutions brought to the courts by the Fraud Investigation section of Salford Direct for council tax or housing benefits fraud.
Details of individual cases:
Woman guilty of £15,000 benefit fraud
A woman who was working part-time as a college lecturer has been prosecuted for falsely claiming more than £15,000 in benefits.
48-year-old Deborah Kennedy of Alpha Street West in Langworthy, Salford, continued to claim benefits when she had been working part time.
She pleaded guilty to five offences at Minshull Street Crown Court for making false statements for benefits and for dishonestly failing to notify the council of her change in circumstances.
Between September 2003 and September 2008 Kennedy claimed £15,312 in different benefits that she was not legally entitled to, heard the court.
Her false claims were investigated by officers at Salford City Council's fraud team after a routine home visit.
From July 2007 to February 2008 Kennedy claimed £1867 in incapacity benefits after declaring herself unfit for work. During the routine visit she could not provide evidence of her incapacity benefits.
Investigation officers found that she had two undeclared periods of employment since September 2003 and had been in continuous part-time employment at a college since January 2006. She also claimed £224.71 unlawfully in Jobseekers Allowance.
Due to failing to report a change in her circumstances and completing a false statement, Kennedy was overpaid £13,220 in housing and council tax benefit between September 2003 and September 2008.
She was given a five month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid community work in the next 12 months.
She must pay back all the benefits she illegally claimed and pay court costs of £750.
HHJ Geake said in court that Kennedy had been 'uneasy and evasive' when asked about her situation and 'dishonest and devious year-in, year-out'. He added that she had 'created a diversionary bank account to disguise' the situation.
Councillor Peter Connor, Salford City Council's lead member for housing said: "Benefits exist for people who need them and we encourage people to claim what they are entitled to.
"In this case however, this individual was not eligible to the benefits she was getting. She had many opportunities to tell us about a change in circumstances which she failed to do and I'm pleased that officers are working hard to stop this abuse of the system."
For more information about benefits and to check what you are entitled visit our council tax benefits page.
This page was last updated on 7 February 2011
