Sally Metcalfe of Beverley Prosecuted for Benefit Fraud

A Beverley resident has been handed a conditional discharge after admitting benefit fraud.

Sally Metcalfe, of Norwood Grove, Beverley, had failed to declare that she had been in receipt of a student loan and grant.  Mrs Metcalfe continued to receive benefits and fraudulently claimed £2,580.56 housing benefit between September 2008 and June 2009.

The student loan was discovered via a data matching exercise and a subsequent investigation led by East Riding of Yorkshire Council investigators.

Sally Metcalfe appeared before Beverley Magistrates on Friday, 29th January 2010.  She was prosecuted ubder Section 111A (1A) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 – dishonestly failing to report a change in circumstances.  She received a six-month order of conditional discharge and was also ordered to pay £345 towards costs.

Mrs Metcalfe will also have to repay the £2,580.56 she fraudulently claimed.

Andy Hardy, fraud investigation manager, said: “It is important that benefit claimants declare any changes in circumstances to the local authority.  People who fail to notify the benefits team run the risk of being prosecuted.”

This prosecution was taken after consideration of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s prosecution policy.