Woman pleads guilty to benefit fraud

9:35am Friday 14th March 2008

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A Chorley mum-of-one has pleaded guilty at Leyland Magistrates Court to claiming over £3,500 in benefits that she wasn't entitled to.

Naomi Welford-Hill, 22, of Lakeland Gardens, claimed extra cash in Housing and Council Tax Benefits and Income Support.

Leyland magistrates heard that Welford-Hill had legitimately claimed Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit as a single parent at her previous address in Market Street, Chorley.

However, she failed to notify both Chorley Council and the Department for Work and Pensions that her partner had moved in and that he was in full-time employment.

Welford-Hill withdrew her claim for benefits when she moved to Lakeland Gardens.

A Chorley Council spokesperson said: "This case came to light following information supplied to the Council that suggested Miss Welford-Hill's partner was living with her at her previous address.

"Council investigators began gathering information about the alleged partner and it soon became clear the allegation was correct."

As Miss Welford-Hill's entitlement to Income Support was also affected, the Department for Work and Pensions joined the investigation and the full extent of the fraudulent overpayment was put before the court.

"It's important that our customers realise they have a duty to inform the authority that pays their benefit of any changes in circumstances.

"They must also report changes quickly to avoid being overpaid.

"If customers purposely fail to report a change and retain benefits they are not entitled to they must be prepared to face the consequences," added the council spokesman.

Welford-Hill received a 12-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £75 costs.

Action is also being taken to recover the overpayment in full.