Posts Tagged ‘ benefit payments ’

North Ferriby Resident Prosecuted For Benefit Fraud

July 5, 2012
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A North Ferriby resident has received a criminal record after admitting benefit fraud. Jennifer Sikala, aged 30, of New Walk, Ferriby, appeared before Beverley Magistrates on Tuesday, 3rd July 2012. She pleaded guilty to dishonestly making a false statement in order to obtain an entitlement to housing and council tax benefit. Mrs Sikala declared that she was married and her only income was child benefit; however, investigators from East Riding of Yorkshire Council discovered that Mrs Sikala’s husband had been working since September 2004. Mrs Sikala received a £75 fine and was ordered to pay £852 towards legal costs. She will also have to repay the £4,016.03 housing and council tax benefit she fraudulently received during the period May 2010 to August 2011. Andy Hardy, fraud investigation and enforcement manager, said: “East Riding of Yorkshire Council view all attempts to commit fraud against the authority very seriously. Anyone who suspects someone of committing benefit fraud should report the matter to us giving as much detail as possible. If you commit a first offence resulting in a conviction, administrative penalty or caution, it will be subject to a ‘One Strike’ sanction. This means you may lose your right to continue receiving…

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Graham Stuart says “let’s make work pay”

March 2, 2012
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The Government’s victory in passing the Welfare Reform Bill, ensuring that no family can get more in benefits than the average working family earns, has been welcomed by Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness. No longer will families who don’t work be able to receive more money in benefits than those who do. Under the new reforms work will always pay because out of work benefit payments for a household will be capped at £26,000 per year. Under Labour, households were able to receive up to £104,000 per year in Housing Benefit alone. Commenting, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Today marks an historic step in the biggest welfare revolution in over 60 years. This government has taken bold action to make work pay, while protecting the vulnerable. Past governments have talked about reform, while watching the benefits bill sky rocket and generations languish on the dole and dependency. This government is delivering it. Our new law will mark the end of the culture that said a life on benefits was an acceptable alternative to work.” Graham added, “The last government trapped people in a life on benefits. Huge numbers were incentivised not to work because they would be worse…

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