Claimant's £1,000 fiddle (From Barry And District News)

Claimant's £1,000 fiddle

A BARRY woman, who unlawfully obtained nearly £1,000 in benefits, has been given a 12-month conditional discharge by Vale of Glamorgan magistrates.

Jeanette Elizabeth Pot-ter, of Vere Street, Barry, who admitted the offence, was also order to pay £150 costs.

Prosecuting on behalf of the Vale Council, Mohammed Yakub said the authority launched an investigation in Sept-ember 2001, after hearing that Mrs Potter, who was in receipt of housing and council tax benefits, had been earning income of which they were unaware.

Council records rev-ealed that Mrs Potter had been in receipt of benefits since March, 1998, calculated on the basis that her only money source was Income Support.

However, Benefits Agency records showed Mrs Potter had ceased to receive Income Support from November, 2000, because she was working in excess of 16 hours per week.

This change of circumstances had not been notified to the council, said Mr Yakub, and resulted in Mrs Potter being overpaid £958.74 benefits.

"Housing and council tax benefits help those on low incomes pay their rent and/or council tax, and the council, which administers the system on behalf of the Benefits Agency, has a statutory duty to protect the public purse," added Mr Yakub.

Application forms clearly stated that failure to declare changes in circumstances could lead to prosecution.

Garth James, for Mrs Potter, said his client had informed the Benefits Agency of her change in circumstances and her failure to pass on similar information to the council was not a wilful act.

Mrs Potter was no longer in employment and of limited financial means, he added.