A Stockport woman pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining benefit totalling £5804.04, and was sentenced at Stockport Magistrates Court.
Leanne Rhodes, aged 30, of Ecclesbridge Road, Marple, was prosecuted for failing to declare she had over £16, 000 in the bank whilst claiming benefit to help pay her rent and council tax thereby obtaining benefits fraudulently from Stockport Council.
Miss Rhodes was given a 6 month Community order and ordered to pay £178 costs.
This theft of public money was discovered following a data matching exercise conducted by the council and was investigated by Stockport Council’s Counter Fraud Investigation Team.
The overpayments of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are to be repaid and are separate from the court action.
If you are in receipt of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit you have a duty to report any change in your circumstances to the Council – contact the Benefits Section on: 0161 217 6015. The Council’s fraud hotline number is 0800 328 6340.