The UK Government has issued a stern warning that benefit fraud will be detected and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, following the sentencing of a Manchester woman to 20 months in prison
Nearly 24 million people across Great Britain are currently receiving at least one benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with a record-breaking eight million people now claiming Universal Credit.
However, the UK Government has delivered a stark warning that benefit fraud will be uncovered and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, following the sentencing of a Manchester woman to 20 months behind bars.
The 51 year old woman was found guilty of stealing £110,000 in benefits she wasn’t entitled to after failing to inform the DWP of changes to her living circumstances. Meanwhile, the Mirror reports of ‘state pensioners could lose DWP payments after ‘unfair’ £10,000 rule’.
The woman admitted guilt to four counts of benefit fraud at Manchester Magistrates Court on August 12, having dishonestly claimed Job Seeker’s Allowance; Employment Support Allowance; Housing Benefit; and Council Tax Support between April 2013 and April 2023.
The case emerged following an anonymous tip-off, which triggered a joint investigation by the DWP Pensions Regional Investigations team and Manchester City Council, reports the Express.
Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western, stated: “Our social security system exists to support the most vulnerable in society and those genuinely in need”.
He added that they “will continue to take legal action to fight those trying to scam the system” and warned that “if anyone thinks they can get away with it, this case shows that they will be brought to justice”.
The minister stated: “Joint working between the DWP and local authorities will protect taxpayers’ money while ensuring genuine claimants receive the money they are entitled to”.
Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Finances and Resource for Manchester City Council, shared: “We know that in Manchester there are a great number of people who are genuine beneficiaries of the benefit system and put their trust in it to deliver the support they need. For many it has been a lifeline through one of the most difficult economic climates in a generation”.
Akbar continued: “This case was an example of how the trust inherent in our benefits system was abused for personal gain”. The councillor added his thanks to the “officers for their tireless work to detect this fraud, as well as colleagues in the DWP for ensuring a successful prosecution”.
The prosecution forms part of a wider pattern of successful court cases protecting public funds in recent months. One such example was made in June, where a couple from Port Talbot received suspended jail terms ranging from six months to two years after stealing £48,517 in Universal Credit whilst hiding their capital assets.
During the same month, a woman from Swansea was convicted after submitting bogus childcare claims by uploading fake invoices to claim childcare costs she had never actually paid. She received a six-month prison sentence, which was suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to carry out unpaid work.
Additionally, a couple from St Helens have each been handed two-year prison sentences after fraudulently claiming over £268,000 through offences, including false Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims and a Local Authority Direct Payment. This was carried out using fake identities, as well as claiming Employment Support Allowance as a single person despite cohabiting.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has stated that these successful prosecutions come as the UK Government is strengthening its ability to fight fraud and identify genuine errors even sooner, through the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill. This Bill is expected to save taxpayers £1.5 billion over the next five years.