Woman pleads guilty to £26,000 benefit fraud

A County Durham woman has pleaded guilty to falsely claiming more than £26,000 in benefits.

Wendy Rice, of Tregoney Avenue, Murton, appeared at Durham Crown Court yesterday (Thursday, 28 May), accused of falsely claiming housing and council tax benefits and jobseekers allowance over a period of three years.

The court heard that the 51-year-old first applied to Durham County Council for housing and council tax benefit in May 2010 but her application was refused because her husband’s earnings were too high.

In January 2011, she again applied for housing and council tax benefit and also made a claim to the Department for Work and Pensions for jobseekers allowance, claiming that she was separated from her husband and had no income. Her applications were approved.

At the end of 2012, Rice informed the council that her son was now living at her home and was also in receipt of jobseekers allowance. In 2013, she failed to notify the council that her son had started working.

The council obtained evidence from Rice’s bank, which showed that her income and that of her husband was paid into a joint account and there was no separation of their finances.

Rice pleaded guilty to failing to notify the council and Department for Work and Pensions that her income had increased due to contributions received from her husband and failing to notify the council that her son had started working.

As a result, she falsely claimed £26,790.44 in benefits including:

• £8,273.22 in housing benefit between January 2011 and September 2013; - council tax benefit overpayments and reductions totalling £2,611.16 between January 2011 and March 2014; - an overpayment of £15,906.06 in jobseekers allowance between January 2011 and January 2014.

In her defence, Rice’s barrister stated that she was of previous good character. She said that Rice, who has health problems, was concerned that a conviction would affect her employment and is currently repaying the money.

Rice was given a 12-month community order with 150 hours unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge.

Afterwards, Paul Bradley, Durham County Council’s chief internal auditor and corporate fraud manager, said:

“Benefit fraud is a serious crime and we will seek to prosecute anyone who makes a false claim.

This case should serve as a reminder of the importance of notifying ourselves or the Department for Work and Pensions of any change in your circumstances when claiming benefits.”