Shropshire Star

Oswestry benefits cheat is ordered to repay total of £3,000

An Oswestry woman has been ordered to pay back almost £3,000 in housing benefits which she wasn't entitled to after failing to declare that her earnings had increased.

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Melanie Upton claimed £2,993.17 between November 7 2011 and May 19 2013 to which she was not entitled, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.

The 42-year-old admitted a charge of failing to notify Shropshire Council about a change in her circumstances which would have an effect on the amount of money she was entitled to.

She was sentenced to a 12-month community order of 50 hours of unpaid work and ordered her to pay £800 costs to Shropshire Council. She will also be liable to pay back the overpayment.

Speaking after the hearing, Jessica Taylor, benefits manager for Shropshire Council, said: "In this case, while around £3,000 of overpaid benefit related to the specific offence period, there was in fact a total of over £4,000 that had been claimed when the claimant was not entitled to this money. It is simply not acceptable for anyone to do this.

"It is the responsibility of people claiming housing benefit and council tax support to declare any income or capital to the council plus any subsequent changes to their circumstances. Where people fail to do this, the council will investigate the matter and will require the money to be repaid. In addition, we will not hesitate to prosecute where this is appropriate."

Mike Owen, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for resources and finance, said: "I hope this sends a clear message to others that fraudsters will be caught and punished.

"This is not a victimless crime, as fraudulently-claimed benefits take money out of the pockets of every hard working taxpayer, as well as the people who genuinely need support to make ends meet.

"I strongly urge all claimants to provide the benefits service with accurate claim information at all times, and to promptly provide any changes to their circumstances that may affect their entitlement to benefits."`

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