25 July 2008An Edenbridge woman who claimed nearly £8,000 worth of benefit she was not entitled to in a nine month period was successfully prosecuted last week.
Rennette Jones, aged 39, of Wainhouse Close in Edenbridge pleaded guilty to three charges relating to offences under section 111A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on Thursday 1 May.
An investigation conducted jointly by the Department for Work & Pensions and Sevenoaks District Council, following an anonymous tip-off from a member of the public, established that Mrs Jones had falsely claimed Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for a nine month period between May 2006 and February 2007, by failing to declare that she was living with a partner.
In total Mrs Jones received £2,045.28 in Housing Benefit, £456 in Council Tax Benefit and £5,287.71 in Income Support which she knew she was not entitled to.
At court Mrs Jones was sentenced to a conditional discharge, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay legal costs of £100.
Sevenoaks District Council is actively seeking the repayment of the benefit claimed illegally.
Cllr Brian Ramsay, Sevenoaks District Councilâ¬"s Cabinet member with responsibility for finance, says: "We have stressed before just what a serious issue benefit fraud is, as it is effectively stealing money from the tax payer. It will not be tolerated, and anyone claiming money they are not entitled to should realise they will invariably be caught."
If the public has any information relating to benefit fraud, they can call Sevenoaks District Council's confidential benefit fraud hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 01732 227445.
