A woman will have to pay back more than £7,000 in benefits funding she received after pleading guilty to benefit fraud and being given a conditional discharge for two years.
Marjorie Lloyd Jones, 50, of Rabley Wood View, Marlborough, pleaded guilty to failing to notify Wiltshire Council and the Department for Work and Pensions promptly that she was in remunerative work.
She appeared on Tuesday at Chippenham Magistrates Court, where she was given a conditional discharge for two years and ordered to repay the full amount.
A joint investigation carried out by Wiltshire Council and the Department for Work and Pensions identified that Lloyd Jones started employment and as a result of her change in income she had received a total of £7721.20 in benefits she was not entitled to.
“It is always the responsibility of the person claiming benefit to tell the council of any changes in circumstances which may affect their entitlement,” a council spokeswoman told Marlborough News Online. “If there is any doubt, then the revenues and benefits team will be happy to discuss any issues.”
“The council is very keen to stamp out benefit fraud and will take action against those found to be cheating the system. If you have any information that can help catch a benefit cheat, call Wiltshire Council’s confidential hotline on 01249 706256 or the National Fraud Hotline on 0800 854440.”
Contact 0300 456 0110 to report any changes in circumstances or ask for advice.
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