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13/05/2003
£3m recouped from benefit cheats
The Social Security Agency has prosecuted 340 people involved in benefit fraud in the last year resulting in £3 million savings of taxpayers’ money, it was announced today.
As part of its ongoing campaign to reduce the levels of fraud, the Agency also investigated more than 4,500 cases.
The Agency claims its rigorous investigation of suspected cases of fraud, coupled with prosecution of people guilty of benefit theft has saved taxpayers millions of pounds.
Prosecutions included a Bangor woman who was convicted of fraudulently receiving £23,000 in Income Support over a period of seven years. The woman who did not tell the Agency that she was living with her partner, and knowingly cashed cheques to which she was not entitled, was fined £250 and is required to pay back the money.
Elsewhere, an Antrim woman was also prosecuted for fraudulently claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit amounting to nearly £4,000. She received a probation sentence of six months, incurred the court costs and is required to repay the funds to the Social Security Agency.
Commenting on the figures, Chris Thompson, Chief Executive of the Social Security Agency, said that the prosecutions and investigations would continue as part of the Agency’s commitment to safeguard public funds.
He said: “While we are committed to providing financial help and security to those who deserve and are entitled to help, we will not tolerate abuse of a welfare system that is designed to protect the most vulnerable in society. Those who steal money from the system must realize that we are determined to flush them out and take them to court where necessary.”
(MB)
As part of its ongoing campaign to reduce the levels of fraud, the Agency also investigated more than 4,500 cases.
The Agency claims its rigorous investigation of suspected cases of fraud, coupled with prosecution of people guilty of benefit theft has saved taxpayers millions of pounds.
Prosecutions included a Bangor woman who was convicted of fraudulently receiving £23,000 in Income Support over a period of seven years. The woman who did not tell the Agency that she was living with her partner, and knowingly cashed cheques to which she was not entitled, was fined £250 and is required to pay back the money.
Elsewhere, an Antrim woman was also prosecuted for fraudulently claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit amounting to nearly £4,000. She received a probation sentence of six months, incurred the court costs and is required to repay the funds to the Social Security Agency.
Commenting on the figures, Chris Thompson, Chief Executive of the Social Security Agency, said that the prosecutions and investigations would continue as part of the Agency’s commitment to safeguard public funds.
He said: “While we are committed to providing financial help and security to those who deserve and are entitled to help, we will not tolerate abuse of a welfare system that is designed to protect the most vulnerable in society. Those who steal money from the system must realize that we are determined to flush them out and take them to court where necessary.”
(MB)
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