June 2009

June 2009

• A 38 year old Chelmsley Wood woman was offered a Formal Caution after a successful investigation by Solihull Council's Benefit Investigation Team. She had failed to report that her Tax Credit income had increased. In addition to this she is having to repay the £525.91 Housing and Council Tax Benefit Benefit over paid to her.
• A 64 year old man from Solihull was successfully prosecuted at Solihull Magistrates Court following an investigation by the Council's Benefit Fraud Team . When he made his claim to Council Tax Benefit he failed to declare that he had capital in excess of £16,000, by way of two holiday homes in Devon, which he had owned for many years. He pleaded guilty in court and was fined £160 and ordered to pay £300 costs and £15 victim surcharge. He has also repaid the overpayment in full. The case was referred to the team through an anonymous telephone call.
• A 46 year old Solihull woman was offered a Formal Caution after a successful investigation by Solihull Council. She had failed to report that her partner, who was in full time work had moved into her property and was living with her. In addition to this she has fully repaid the Housing Benefit over paid to her.
• A 28 year old Solihull man was offered a Formal Caution after a successful investigation by Solihull Council Benefit Investigation Team. He had failed to report that his wife was in receipt of a student bursary and that their tax credits had increased. In addition to this he is being asked to repay the £1,550.63 Housing and Council Tax Benefit over paid to him.
• A 25 year old Shirley man was prosecuted after a successful investigation by Solihull Council's Benefit fraud investigation team. This referral was due to an investigation on another case by the Benefit Investigation Team. The claimant had claimed Housing Benefit stating that his landlord was a Mr X. On checking, it was discovered that Mr X was himself a benefit claimant who had not declared the above property on his own benefit claim form. On checking the tenancy agreement supplied by the claimant, the signatures of Mr X differed from that on his benefit claim form and on the tenancy agreement which had been supplied by the claimant in order to verify his claim. Further investigation resulted in a land registry check being made on the claimant's address, which revealed it to be the property of the claimant's mother who was in residence there herself. It was suspected that Mr X was the claimant's grandfather. The claimant was interviewed under caution in the presence of his solicitor and he fully admitted the offence. He was prosecuted on 7th May for providing a claim for housing benefit to which he knew was false and given a 100 hour community service order and ordered to pay £200 costs.
• A 27 year old Chelmsley Wood woman was offered an administration penalty of £259.93 to pay, as an alternative to prosecution, after a successful investigation by Solihull Council. She had failed to report that her income and tax credits had increased. In addition to paying the administration penalty she is having to repay the £866.45 Housing Benefit over paid to her.
• A 44 year old Castle Bromwich woman was offered a Formal Caution after a successful investigation by Solihull Council Benefit Investigation Team. She had failed to report that her earned income had increased as well as her tax credit income. In addition to this she is having to repay the £837.17 Housing and Council Tax Benefit Benefit over paid to her.
• A 48 year old Shirley woman was offered a Formal Caution after a successful investigation by Solihull Council. She had failed to report that her partner had a rise in his income from his employment. In addition to this she has to repay in full the £2,416.24 Housing and Council Tax Benefit over paid to her.
• A 49 year old Solihull woman was offered a Formal Caution after a successful investigation by Solihull Council. She had failed to report that she had a rise in her earned income and tax credits. In addition to this she has to repay in full the £558.17 Housing and Council Tax Benefit over paid to her.
• A 48 year old Chelmsley Wood woman was offered a Formal Caution after a successful investigation by Solihull Council Benefit Investigation Team. She had failed to report that she had an increase in her tax credits. In addition to this she is having to repay the £725.84 Housing and Council Tax Benefit Benefit over paid to her.
• A 22 year old Solihull man woman was given a Formal Caution after a successful investigation by Solihull Council Investigation Team. He had failed to report that he had moved out of the address that he was being paid Housing Benefit for. In addition he is now having to repay the £535.40 Housing Benefit overpaid to him.
• A 44 year old Solihull man woman was given a Formal Caution after a successful investigation by Solihull Council. He failed to report the fact that he had started working . In addition he is now having to repay the £1178.64 Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit overpaid to him.
• A 54 year old Chelmsley Wood man was offered a Formal Caution after a successful investigation by Solihull Council Benefit Fraud Team. He had failed to report that his wife had commenced work and that his Job seekers Allowance had ceased. In addition to this he is having to repay the £711.91 Council Tax Benefit over paid to him.
• A 30 year old Smithswood woman was offered a Formal Caution after a successful investigation by Solihull Council Benefit Investigation Team. She had failed to report that her student award income had increased. In addition to this she has to repay the £673.40 Housing Benefit over paid to her.