One a week prosecuted for cheating on benefits

AT least one benefits cheat is prosecuted in the Lothians every week after being tracked down by fraud investigators.

A total of 56 people were taken to court in a single year for falsely claiming unemployment and other benefits.

The new figures also show that investigators catch up with more than one fraudster every day.

Between April 2006 and March last year, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) tracked down 424 offenders in Lothian and Borders.

Although most avoided prosecution, each one faced having to pay back the illegally-claimed cash while many had to pay a penalty set at around 30 per cent of what they stole.

Investigators from the DWP often mount undercover surveillance on suspects to try and catch them working while claiming unemployment or disability pay.

Teams also make visits to building sites and other workplaces, as well as carrying out spot checks on workers at private homes, such as window cleaners or gardeners.

On Wednesday, the News revealed that the DWP was investigating a one-legged man caught working as a roofer in North Berwick, East Lothian.

The DWP even has powers to check bank accounts to uncover when extra cash is being earned, although it still relies heavily on tip-offs from the public.

James Plaskitt, DWP anti-fraud minister, said: "Our investigators have more powers than ever before.

"We can check the bank accounts and household bills of those we suspect of fraud, as well as working with other government departments to ensure benefit claims are valid.

"Matching data this way has helped uncover millions of pounds in overpayments every year. Benefits thieves have to understand they will not get away with it.

"Working together with local authorities and the police, we have a strong range of powers to investigate and with the support of the public we bring benefits thieves to justice."

The most popular frauds are working while claiming unemployment, working while taking incapacity benefits, overstating disabilities to increase payments, and falsely taking single person discounts on council tax.

Single parents have also been caught claiming benefits for living alone, but failing to declare a live-in partner.

Council officials believe up to 38,000 Edinburgh households could be fraudulently claiming the single-person household discount of 25 per cent.

In March, around 70,000 homes in the Capital were targeted as part of a mail drop aimed at tackling benefit fraud.

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, Edinburgh's finance leader, said: "We are making good progress on tackling benefit fraud, but we want to improve in this area even more. The vast majority who receive benefits are genuinely entitled to them.

However, there is a minority who are intent on stealing money from those who need it most."

The estimated annual cost of fraud in the UK is £900 million, or £36 from each family.

The DWP is targeting the Capital as part of its "No ifs, no buts" drive to encourage more people to report benefit fraud.


You can't beat the system

BENEFITS cheats have stolen tens of thousands before being caught and landing themselves in court.

Last month, mum-of-four Annette Slater, 42, who cheated a benefits agency out of almost £23,000, was spared jail to look after her children. Sheriff Kenneth Maciver said sending her to jail would only cost the public more by having to provide care for the children.

Last July, Donald Henderson, of Balderston Gardens, received 120 hours' community service for not declaring an occupational pension when claiming benefit. He defrauded a total of £5169.

The same month, Heather Hainey, of Northfield Drive, was given 150 hours' community service for falsely claiming £11,306.32.