Community service for false claims man
A Llangennech man has been sentenced to a community order for falsely claiming more than £4,500 in rent rebate and council tax benefit.
Stephen Hodge appeared at Llanelli Magistrates Court for sentencing, having previously pleaded guilty at Ammanford Magistrates Court to one charge of dishonestly failing to declare a change in circumstances and one of dishonestly making a false statement, contrary to S111 Social Security Administration Act 1992.
Hodge, aged 46, had been awarded housing and council tax benefit at his council tenancy at Nantygro, Llangennech, on the basis he was a single man.
An investigation was commenced in November 2010 when it was suspected that he had been working.
He attended the council offices and made a full admission that he had failed to declare he had returned to work for Millbrook Recovery in March 2009 and that he’d subsequently been working for A & A Car Service Centre, Llanelli from August 2009 to June 2010.
As a result, Hodge had been overpaid £3,776.02 rent rebate from March 23, 2009, to November 7, 2010, and £892.45 council tax benefit from March 23, 2009, to November 3, 2010, a total of £4,668.47.
Hodge was sentenced to a six month community order with a requirement that he undergo six months supervision by the Probation Service, and was ordered to pay £50 costs. Carmarthenshire County Council will pursue recovery of the overpaid benefit.
Council executive board member for resources Cllr Wyn Evans said: “The Council is anxious that as many people as possible claim the housing and council tax benefit that they are rightfully entitled to.
“However, we are also determined to crack down on fraudulent claims that are a drain on the public purse, taking money that could otherwise be used for funding essential services. This offence is taking money from every council tax payer.”
Members of the public can report any suspicions of benefit fraud in the county via the Carmarthenshire County Council Fraud Hotline 0800 – 801116 or via the council website.
Stephen Hodge appeared at Llanelli Magistrates Court for sentencing, having previously pleaded guilty at Ammanford Magistrates Court to one charge of dishonestly failing to declare a change in circumstances and one of dishonestly making a false statement, contrary to S111 Social Security Administration Act 1992.
Hodge, aged 46, had been awarded housing and council tax benefit at his council tenancy at Nantygro, Llangennech, on the basis he was a single man.
An investigation was commenced in November 2010 when it was suspected that he had been working.
He attended the council offices and made a full admission that he had failed to declare he had returned to work for Millbrook Recovery in March 2009 and that he’d subsequently been working for A & A Car Service Centre, Llanelli from August 2009 to June 2010.
As a result, Hodge had been overpaid £3,776.02 rent rebate from March 23, 2009, to November 7, 2010, and £892.45 council tax benefit from March 23, 2009, to November 3, 2010, a total of £4,668.47.
Hodge was sentenced to a six month community order with a requirement that he undergo six months supervision by the Probation Service, and was ordered to pay £50 costs. Carmarthenshire County Council will pursue recovery of the overpaid benefit.
Council executive board member for resources Cllr Wyn Evans said: “The Council is anxious that as many people as possible claim the housing and council tax benefit that they are rightfully entitled to.
“However, we are also determined to crack down on fraudulent claims that are a drain on the public purse, taking money that could otherwise be used for funding essential services. This offence is taking money from every council tax payer.”
Members of the public can report any suspicions of benefit fraud in the county via the Carmarthenshire County Council Fraud Hotline 0800 – 801116 or via the council website.
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