An Ammanford man has been prosecuted for falsely claiming more than £15,000 in housing and council tax benefit.
Roger Hunter pleaded guilty at Llanelli Magistrates Court to making eight false statements in order to obtain housing and council tax benefit, contrary to Section 112 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992.
Hunter had claimed the benefits as a single man at various addresses in the county from March 2002 onwards, based on a low income.
The case was highlighted as a result of the council’s participation in a nationwide data-matching exercise, which identified that Hunter was in receipt of an NHS pension that he had failed to declare to the council.
As a result, he fraudulently obtained £15,470 in benefit between March 25, 2002, and October 4, 2009.
Fifty three-year-old Hunter, of Heol Marlais, Llandybie, was fined £520 and ordered to pay £60 prosecution costs. He will also have to repay all of the overpaid benefit.
This was the second successful prosecution achieved by the Council Investigation Section from the exercise. A number of cautions have also been administered by the council in conjunction with the Department for Work and Pensions.
Council executive board member for resources Cllr Wyn Evans said: “The Council is anxious that as many people as possible claim the housing and council tax benefit that they are rightfully entitled to.
“However, we are also determined to crack down on fraudulent claims that are a drain on the public purse, taking money that could otherwise be used for funding essential services. This offence is taking money from every Council Tax payer.”
Members of the public can report any suspicions of benefit fraud in the county via the Carmarthenshire County Council Fraud Hotline 0800 – 801116 or via the Council website.
