A woman who claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit despite having a job at McDonald’s, has been sentenced at the Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court in Derby following a prosecution by Amber Valley Borough Council.
Claire Morris of Chapel Street, Leabrooks, received a 12 month community order with a six month supervision requirement and an education, training and employment requirement of 40 hours over a period of 20 days. She was also ordered to pay a contribution towards prosecution costs of £225 by instalments of £5 per week.
Amber Valley Borough Council had paid housing benefit and council tax benefit to Miss Morris since August 1999. Her claim was reviewed on several occasions and, based upon the information and evidence she provided, benefit payments continued. Letters were sent to Miss Morris informing her of the entitlement, specifically stating that she must inform the Council immediately of any change in her circumstances, including changes to her income.
In January 2006, the Council’s Benefit Investigation Manager received information that Miss Morris was in paid employment. As she had not informed the Council of any change in circumstances, a fraud investigation was commenced.
Angela Fox, Legal Officer at Amber Valley Borough Council said “Following the findings of the investigation, we interviewed Miss Morris under caution at the Council’s offices on 22 March 2006. During the interview Miss Morris admitted that she had been working for JMK Restaurants Limited at McDonalds, located at Butterley Park, Ripley, since March 2005. She disclosed that her earnings were approximately £175.00 every two weeks.
“This would have affected her entitlement to benefit and consequently, in accordance with usual practice, benefit payments were suspended.”
The overpayments in respect of the housing benefit (from 14 March 2005 to 3 April 2006) and the council tax benefit (from 14 March 2005 to 10 April 2006) were £4,258.81 and £759.74 respectively.
Claire Morris was convicted in her absence at Ilkeston Magistrates' Court on 9 July 2007. Due to the seriousness of the offence, the magistrates did not consider it appropriate to sentence in her absence and issued a warrant for her arrest without bail. This was executed on 14 February 2008 when she was arrested and taken to Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court.
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For more information please contact Lisa Garnham, PR and Communications Manager at Amber Valley Borough Council, on 01773 841655.
Notes for editors
Amber Valley Borough Council is responsible for processing applications for housing benefit and council tax benefit from residents in its area and making payments where entitlement exists. The Council uses the information provided on the forms that are submitted to determine the extent, if at all, of benefit entitlement. Once benefit is being paid, the Council periodically reviews claimants’ circumstances to determine whether there have been any changes that would affect entitlement.
At the time when the fraud occurred Miss Morris lived at Albion Street, Ripley.
