Local Woman Prosecuted for Benefit Fraud (06/02/06)

A Houghton Regis woman has been ordered to pay a 200 fine plus 50 costs after she was found guilty of housing benefit and council tax benefit fraud at Luton Magistrates Court last Monday (30 January 2006).

In a case brought by South Bedfordshire District Council, Edith Arnold of Leafields pleaded guilty to six charges of making a false statement to claim housing benefit and council tax benefit. When Mrs Arnold made her claim for benefit, she did not declare bank accounts containing a significant amount of money, which meant that she should not have qualified for any benefit.

Investigation Officers at the council discovered that Mrs Arnold was falsely claiming benefit when an anonymous allegation was received stating that the accounts had not been declared.

The councils Investigations Manager Kay Kempster said: "Make no mistake about it Benefit fraud is theft and we do not consider theft to be acceptable. In real terms it costs honest taxpayers across the whole country, millions of pounds every year.

"We have a very active team of Benefit Fraud Investigators and anyone caught defrauding the benefit system will be considered for prosecution."

If you think that someone may be falsely claiming benefit, call the councils Fraud Hotline on 01582 474162. Calls are completely confidential and can be made anonymously.