Two admit benefit charges (From Penarth Times)

Two admit benefit charges

IN two cases brought by the Vale of Glamorgan Council before magistrates at Barry, a man and woman have been conditionally discharged for a year after admitting unlawfully obtaining benefits.

The defendants - Penarth woman Janet Woodward, of Kymin Terrace, who was also ordered to pay costs of 325.53, and Rhoose man Robert Cameron, of Castle Road - failed to notify the Council of a change in circumstances which affected their entitlement to housing and council tax benefit.

Prosecuting, Richard Price said the defendants had been in receipt of Job Seekers' Allowance, which was a gateway benefit to housing benefit and council tax benefit but this ceased when they found employment - Ms Woodward with the Office of Fair Trading in London and Mr Cameron at Cardiff International Airport.

Mr Price said that, as a result of the defendants failing to notify this change of circumstance, Ms Woodward was overpaid 1,102.92 and Mr Cameron 1,911.79.

Mr Price explained that housing and council tax benefits help individuals on low incomes pay their rent and/or council tax, and the council, which administers the system on behalf of the Benefits Agency, has a statutory duty to protect the public purse.

Application forms clearly state that failure to declare changes in circumstances could lead to prosecution, he added.