Llanelli woman in Housing Benefit Fraud

A LLANELLI woman has been given a 12-month community order for wrongly claiming more than £2,000 in housing benefit.

Amy Roberts pleaded guilty to making a false statement under S.112 Social Security Administration Act 1992.

Carmarthen Magistrates Court heard that 30-year-old Roberts claimed housing and council tax benefit at her then home in Llys Newydd, Llanelli, from November 2009 to June 2010. This was on the basis that she was living with her son and renting the property from a private landlord. On the claim she stated that nobody in the household was related to the landlord.

An investigation commenced in February 2012 and it was established that her landlord was in fact the father of her young son who was born just before she had taken up the tenancy.

As a result, she was not entitled to any of the housing benefit for the period November 2009 to June 2010 and an overpayment of £2,264.17 had occurred.

Roberts, now of Catherine Street, Llanelli, was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order with 12 months supervision. She was also ordered to pay £195 costs. The overpayment of benefit will be recovered by the council.

Council executive board member for resources Cllr Jeff Edmunds said: “The council is keen that people who are entitled to housing benefit claim what they are rightfully entitled to.

“But we are also determined to crack down on fraudulent claims. These offences take money from the public purse that could otherwise be used for funding essential services. It is taking money from every council tax payer.”

Members of the public can report any suspicion of benefit fraud in the county via the Carmarthenshire County Council Fraud Hotline 0800 – 801116 or via the council website.