Benefits cheat gets probation
AN Ipswich man worked while claiming incapacity benefit a court heard.Anthony Swallow claimed incapacity benefits, income support and housing and council tax benefits while he was working for OSR Recruitment Agency.
AN Ipswich man worked while claiming incapacity benefit a court heard.
Anthony Swallow claimed incapacity benefits, income support and housing and council tax benefits while he was working for OSR Recruitment Agency.
The single 49-year-old of Woodbridge Road, Ipswich pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrate's Court to five charges of failing to notify a change of circumstances to the department for work and pensions. The total overpayment amounting to �2,098.78 was claimed during five separate periods between 2006 and 2007.
Ian Duckworth mitigating said Swallow suffered with epilepsy and could not hold down a full-time job.
However he was allowed to work up to 16 hours each week without being penalised by having his benefits reduced.
Mr Duckworth said when Swallow had initially claimed legitimately it had taken six months for the benefits to come through.
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Mr Duckworth said: “He was worried that if he told them he was working he could be without income again.”
He said the agency work was temporary and sporadic and although the number of hours Swallow worked varied from week to week they averaged out at about 19 hours a week.
Magistrates sentenced Swallow to 12 months probation supervision and ordered him to pay �100 towards court costs.
