A woman from Weoley Castle who failed to declare that her landlord was related to her has today been prosecuted for Housing Benefit fraud totalling more than £10,000.
Samantha Farmer, 24, of Shenley Lane, was sentenced to an 18 month community order with a requirement to carry out 160 hours unpaid work after pleading guilty at Birmingham Magistrates Court to one offence under the Social Security Administration Act.
Farmer failed to tell the council that her landlord was in fact her father. If she had told the truth she would not have been paid the £10,433 she fraudulently claimed.
Jim Wilkinson, Assistant Director for Audit and Risk Management at Birmingham City Council, said: “Since April 2009 our team of investigators has uncovered fraud worth just over £1.5million and taken legal action against 523 fraudsters.
“We continue to ensure that those that have a legitimate right to benefit receive it and those that set out to commit fraud are quickly rooted out”.
To help stamp out benefit fraud if you suspect someone may be guilty, call the city council Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0121 303 9990.
All calls are confidential and callers can remain anonymous if they wish. Benefit cheats can also be reported online. To find out more information, visit: www.birmingham.gov.uk/bhamaudit
ENDS
For further information contact Kris Kowalewski on 0121 303 3621
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