New government benefits ruling changes the landscape

This entry was posted on Monday, October 31st, 2011 at 2:07 pm

Following the violent riots that swept the UK in August, the government will reduce benefits for criminals. According to a recent BBC report, courts will have the right to recover up to £25 per week from law breaking claimants by 2013, a large increase on the current £5.

Prime Minister David Cameron said that convicted criminals should pay a greater sum towards their fines. In addition, benefit fraud investigators will be working harder to ensure initial claims are correct. Figures from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) from 2009 show that approximately £250m of income support is lost annually as a result of fraud and error, with further millions lost on housing benefit.

Earlier this month, council care manager Lindy Sumner was jailed with her husband for benefit fraud. The Haringey Independent stated that the couple from Enfield claimed more than £130,000 in housing and council tax benefits. After falsely claiming to be homeless, the pair were offered a council house, which was illegally sublet whilst they claimed more than £32,000 in tax credits. Officials alerted the Metropolitan Police to the fraud in 2009.

Benefit fraud investigators claimed the Sumners had taken advantage of the system, and Sumner was jailed for two-and-a-half years after the trial, pleading guilty to charges of fraud and dishonesty. Her husband received a lesser six month sentence for conspiracy.

If you have been accused of benefit fraud or are currently under investigation, we can give you the legal assistance you need. David Phillips & Partners have over 25 years of experience, and our solicitors are experts in the field of benefit fraud cases.