Benefit fraud in Thames Ditton caught out

A 67 year old woman from Thames Ditton, pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to inform Elmbridge Borough Council and The Department for Work and Pensions about her full income, which had in turn affected her benefit entitlement.

Mrs Georginah Simmons was overpaid Housing Benefit of £5,937.83, and Council Tax Benefit of £1,826.99 by Elmbridge Borough Council between January 2009 and October 2011, making a total of £7,764.82.

All monies have now been repaid to Elmbridge Borough Council.

Mrs Simmons was also overpaid Pension Credit of £4,880.49 for the period March 2008 to June 2011, making the combined total of all overpaid benefits to be £12,645.31.

On 18th October 2012, Magistrates sentenced her to a conditional discharge for 3 years, and ordered her to pay costs of £906.70.

Julie Cook, Head of Housing Services said "The Council takes fraud very seriously and, as in this case, will seek to prosecute offenders as well as recovering overpaid benefit. We welcome reports from members of the public if they suspect Benefit Fraud to our confidential fraud hotline on 01372 474291."