BENEFIT FRAUD LEADS TO COURT APPEARANCE

A Ramsgate woman appeared before Canterbury Magistrates’ Court on 25 September following her failure to declare earned income that led to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit overpayments.  Kelly Harris (35) of Kimberley Road received Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit based on her partner working.  She failed to declare to the council that she had been working at Newington Community Primary School as a midday meal supervisor since March 2005. The work came to light as a result of information received from the Audit Commission. Because Miss Harris failed to declare her work, she was overpaid £2,723 in Housing Benefit and £1,047 in Council Tax Benefit from June 2009 to May 2011 – the whole period of her claim to benefit. Miss Harris was interviewed by council investigation officers in June 2011, and as a result was charged under the Social Security Administration Act 1992, section 112 (1) (a), of knowingly making a false statement or representation. In court she pleaded guilty to the offence. Miss Harris was conditionally discharged for two years and a compensation order in the sum of £2843.03 was made. She was also ordered to pay £50 towards prosecution costs. The total is to be paid back at £20 a month.