5 September 2008
Undeclared bank accounts lead to benefits fraud
Two Wealden residents, who claimed council tax and housing benefits while failing to declare joint bank accounts, pleaded guilty to eight charges of benefit fraud at Eastbourne Magistrates Court on August 27.
Patrick Jasper Lee (57) of The Avenue Hailsham, and Elizabeth Mary Gotts (50) of Compton Terrace, Hailsham, had each, on four separate occasions between 2002 and 2006, failed to declare the existence of joint bank accounts when they had applied for housing and council tax benefits.
As a result Mr Lee had received £5,741 in housing benefit and £2,882 in council tax benefit, and Miss Gotts had received £6,292 in housing benefit and £1,622 in council tax benefit, money to which they were not entitled.
The amount of money which Mr Lee and Miss Gotts had in undeclared joint accounts varied, but at one stage the maximum in the accounts totalled £56,800.
Wealden District Council Benefits Investigation Officers became aware of the existence of these undeclared accounts as a result of a standard data matching exercise. Both Mr Lee and Miss Gotts pleaded guilty to all charges. Mr Lee was sentenced to 150 hours community work to be carried out within 12 months and ordered to pay Wealden costs of £375. Miss Gotts was given a 8pm to 8am evening curfew order, to run for three months, and ordered to pay Wealden's cost of £500.
"Supporting people who cannot afford to pay their rent or council tax is an important use of public money, but applicants should be honest and open about their own financial resources," said Councillor Bob Standley, Cabinet member for Finance and Assets.
"It is totally unfair on other tax payers to take public support while sitting on banks accounts or other forms of savings which they have failed to declare. We will have no hesitation in prosecuting such cases when they inevitably come to light."
Please let Wealden Benefits department know if you are claiming benefits and there is a change in your financial circumstances. You can contact our Benefits department on 01323 443500 or use the online form which can be found in the Social Care section of the Wealden web site.
Any suspected fraud relating to housing or council tax benefits can be reported using a dedicated freephone Benefit Fraud Hotline – 0800 318849. An online benefit fraud reporting facility is also available via the Council's website.
