Two people who made false claims for benefits have been brought to book thanks to an investigation by Reading Council fraud officers.
At Reading Magistrates’ Court, On Wednesday, August 18, Claudette Springer, of Whitley Wood Road, admitted falsely claiming £1,124 of Council Tax Benefit. She also admitted falsely claiming £1,203 of Job Seekers’ Allowance.
Mrs Springer was given an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 costs.
The Reading Council’s Fraud Unit began an investigation after it received a tip-off that Mrs Springer owned a property in London Street. When claiming benefits, Mrs Springer had declared ownership of her home in Whitley Wood Road but failed to disclose ownership of the London Street property.
Under Social Security legislation, the value of a property is considered to be capital and if a claimant has more than £16,000 of capital, benefit is not payable.
It also emerged during the investigation that Mrs Springer had failed to disclose a quantity of money she had in a building society account, including £18,730 she had paid into the account in 2009.
On the same date, Mikayla Miles, of Essex Street, Reading, admitted falsely claiming Housing Benefit of £2,396 and Council Tax Benefit of £399.
Miss Miles was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 costs.
During an investigation by Reading Council fraud officers, Miss Miles – who co-operated fully with the investigation – admitted she had been claiming Working Tax Credit but had failed to disclose this when her entitlement to Housing and Council Tax benefits was being assessed.
Cllr Andrew Cumpsty, Leader of Reading Borough Council, said: "This sort of behaviour is anti-social and totally unacceptable. Anyone considering such actions needs to know that this Council will not tolerate it and will press for full sanctions against the perpetrator.
"It is the hard-working silent majority who have to pay for this selfish and greedy behaviour, so it is entirely right that these criminals get the full punishment that they deserve".
Reading Borough Council
