May 2010

May 2010

• A 38 year old woman from Marston Green pleaded guilty to two offences of failing to report changes in her circumstances, namely that she was living together in the same household as her husband as a married couple. This followed a successful joint investigation by Solihull Job Centre Plus and Solihull Council's Benefit Investigation Team. She was sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates Court to 18 months supervised community order to include 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £50 towards costs. She is also having to repay the overpayments of Income Support, Housing and Council Tax Benefit totalling £10,291.75.
• A 32 year old woman from Chelmsley Wood, Solihull accepted a Formal Caution following a successful investigation by the Council's Benefit Fraud Team. She failed to declare to the Council that she had moved address. The discrepancy was identified as part of a data matching exercise.
• A 23 year old woman from Kingshurst, Solihull accepted a Formal Caution following a successful joint investigation by Solihull Job Centre Plus and Solihull MBC's Benefit Fraud Team. She failed to declare to the Council that her partner had been living with her. A total overpayment of £2774.40 is now being recovered from the customer.
• A 59 year old Solihull woman was prosecuted after a successful investigation by Solihull Council Benefit Investigation Team. She had dishonestly failed to report that she and her partner had additional employment, occupational pensions and bank accounts. Proceedings were taken under Social Security Administration Act 1992 at Solihull Magistrates Court when she pleaded guilty to the charge. She was handed a 12 month Supervision Order and ordered to undertake 80 hours unpaid work . Costs of £225 were also awarded against her.
• A 44 year old woman from Solihull accepted a Formal Caution following a successful investigation by the Council's Benefit Fraud Team. She had failed to promptly report that she had received an increase in her tax credit income and her earned income. The total overpayment was £1,280.37 and she is now repaying this.
• A 28 year old man from Castle Bromwich accepted a Formal Caution following a successful investigation by the Council's Benefit Fraud Team. He failed to advise the Council that he was no longer receiving Job Seekers Allowance. He also has to repay the Housing and Council Tax Benefit totalling £3,279.36.