WRONGLY CLAIMED HOUSING BENEFIT

A Pontyates woman has been prosecuted for claiming Housing Benefit as a lone parent after failing to declare her partner had returned to live with her.

Grace Keel pleaded guilty at Carmarthen Magistrates Court last Friday to an offence under section112 of the Social Security & Administration Act.

The court was told that Grace Webster, as she then was, claimed Housing Benefit from Heol y Meinciau, Pontyates from January 2012, also claiming Income Support and stating that she was a lone parent after separating from her partner, Darren Keel.

In November 2013 an allegation was received that Mr Keel had returned to live at the claim address and that he and Miss Webster were living together as husband and wife.

Carmarthenshire County Council undertook a joint investigation with the Department for Work & Pensions. Evidence was obtained in support of the suspicion and Miss Webster was interviewed under caution.

The court heard that Grace Webster and Darren Keel were found to have been living together from August 2013 and as a result Miss Webster was overpaid Housing Benefit of £5,504.05 and Income Support of £3,797.30. Both these overpayments are recoverable.

The couple have since got married and have moved to Heol Llethryd, Pontyberem.

Mrs Keel was sentenced to a 12 Month Community Order with 60 hours unpaid work, and ordered to pay £100 costs and £60 victim surcharge.

Executive board member for resources Cllr David Jenkins said: “The county council wants people who are entitled to Housing Benefit to claim what they are rightfully entitled to.

“However, 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.”
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.