A Merstham woman has been handed an eight month prison sentence after pleading guilty to committing benefit fraud dating back to 2003.
Sarah Ford, 32, submitted false claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit to which she was not entitled amounting to over £19,000 in overpayment. She also falsely claimed £38,946 in Income Support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) from August 2005.
Ms Ford, previously of Mansfield Drive, Merstham, falsely claimed to be a single parent to her three children, living separately from her husband. However she had been living with her husband since moving to the property in September 2003, for which she had signed a joint tenancy agreement.
Ms Ford was prosecuted following a joint investigation led by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, during which she failed to attend four appointments for interviews under caution. She was arrested at her home on the 7 September 2010 by Surrey Police, who also assisted the investigation by conducting a house search and seizing various pieces of documentary evidence. Ms Ford was then interviewed at Reigate Police Station by investigators from the Council’s Anti Fraud team and Jobcentre Plus.
Her husband, Mr Ford, was later interviewed voluntarily and no further action was taken against him.
The case was heard at Guildford Crown Court where, on the 16 March 2011, Ms Ford pleaded guilty to six counts of making a false representation under the Social Security Administration Act. She was later sentenced to eight months imprisonment on the 15 April this year.
Cllr Victor Broad, the Council’s Executive Member for Finance, said:
“We operate a zero tolerance approach to benefit fraud. Our Anti Fraud and Anti Corruption team make every effort to prevent, detect and investigate any fraud that is committed against the Council, including benefit fraud.
“Ms Ford set out to deliberately cheat the benefit system and so we are pleased that the judge handed down what he thought was an appropriate sentence. We hope this serves as a warning to others that benefit fraud will not be tolerated and we will seek to gain the maximum penalty through the courts for this offence.”
Whilst no Compensation Order was made by the judge, Ms Ford is required to repay the overpayments in full to the Council and the DWP, on terms to be mutually agreed.
If you have any information or concerns about a suspected fraud, please contact us in confidence by visiting www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/fraud. Alternatively, please call 01737 276483 or email fraudstoppers@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.
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Just a bit concerned that from the description given, the overpayment figures may be inflated.
Too often council staff assume nil entielment to HB/CTB in these cases, rather than re-assess entitlement based on the partner’s earnings (which may not have been great in this case).
Also, it looks like neither the defence nor the court may have realised that she may have qualified for tax credits in the alternative on a notional basis and which are relevant for sentence.
Won’t be the first time that thsi has happened adn taht sone ahs gove to jail on incorrect figures.
Fred – thanks – not knowing the full details of the case I think we need to trust that the judge had the full facts of the case in front of him/her and made the decision on that basis.
However it does illustrate that there is a huge amount of complexity in the benefits system, which must contribute to the amount of both accidental and deliberate overpayments. A simpler system would seem to be in everyone’s interests!