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Action taken in September 2008

Here you will find details of the actions that we have taken against benefit fraud in Portsmouth for September 2008.

• Formal Cautions - 4
• Administrative Penalties - 1
• Prosecutions - 2

Prosecution details

A woman from Paulsgrove was successfully prosecuted by Portsmouth City Council and the Department for Work and Pensions having pleaded guilty to 3 charges of knowingly failing to promptly notify the authorities of a change in her circumstances. She failed to notify that her partner was living at her address contrary to section 112(1A) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. The impact of this action was an overpayment of Housing and Council Tax benefit amounting to £4165.20 and £806.55 respectively. In addition, an overpayment of Income Support was caused amounting to £3299.81. The woman was sentenced to a 12 month Community Punishment Order requiring her to complete 60 hours unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £100.00 court costs.

A man from Leigh Park was successfully prosecuted by Portsmouth City Council and the Department for Work and Pensions having pleaded guilty to 3 charges of knowingly failing to promptly notify the authorities of a change in his circumstances when his partner had commenced paid employment. This action caused an overpayment of Housing benefit and  Income Support amounting to £276.72 and £2294.74 respectively. He was sentenced to pay a fine of £264.00 in addition to £60.00 court costs and a payment of £15.00 to the Criminal Victims Fund.