18 March 2010A Sevenoaks man who illegally claimed more than £2,000 in benefit after he did not inform the authorities he had returned to work was successfully prosecuted earlier this week.
At Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (30 June), Scott Coulson, 27, of Hillingdon Rise, Sevenoaks, pleaded guilty to a charge of falsely obtaining Social Security Benefit by failing to declare that he had re-started full-time paid employment.
An investigation was conducted after the Housing Benefit Department at Sevenoaks District Council wrote to Mr Coulson in October 2008 informing him that an officer would visit him to review his claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Benefit was being paid to Mr Coulson based upon the fact that he was off work and receiving sick pay.
After failing to be in for the first visit, Mr Coulson was written to with a second appointment. Just prior to the proposed second visit Mr Coulson wrote to the Benefit Department to withdraw his benefit claim. The matter was immediately referred for investigation due to sudden withdrawal of benefit.
An investigation conducted by officers from Sevenoaks District Council’s Fraud and Control Team established that Mr Coulson had left the company paying his sick pay in April 2008 and commenced full-time work with another company in June 2008. Mr Coulson had failed to inform the Benefits Department of these changes and continued to receive benefit as if he was on basic sick pay.
As a result of failing to declare his true circumstances, Mr Coulson illegally claimed £1,778.70 in Housing Benefit and £492.39 in Council Tax Benefit.
At court, Mr Coulson was ordered to pay a £300 fine, costs of £154.14 and a victim surcharge of £15. Sevenoaks District Council is also actively seeking the repayment of the debt incurred, and Mr Coulson is expected repay it all.
Cllr Brian Ramsay, Sevenoaks District Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for finance, says: "Benefit fraud impacts most on the tax payer, as it is money that could be spent on important local services. We will continue to work with our partners to be vigilant, and bring those committing benefit fraud to justice."
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.
