Latest news with #JobSeeker'sAllowance
Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
DWP issues stark benefit warning after woman jailed for 20 months
The DWP has issued a stern warning to benefit claimants across Great Britain, confirming that benefit fraud will be detected and pursued to the 'fullest extent of the law' Nearly 24 million people across Great Britain are currently receiving at least one benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), with a record 8 million now on Universal Credit. However, as claims continue to surge, the Government has issued a stern warning that benefit fraud will be detected and prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. This follows a Manchester woman being handed a 20-month prison sentence. The 51-year-old was found guilty of fraudulently pocketing £110,000 in benefits she wasn't entitled to, after failing to inform the DWP of changes to her living situation. It comes after reports DWP state pensioners are set to be given 'extra £352' completely free. She pleaded guilty to four counts of benefit fraud at Manchester Magistrates Court on 12 August, having dishonestly claimed Job Seeker's Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support between April 2013 and April 2023. The case came to light following an anonymous tip-off, leading to a joint investigation by the DWP Pensions Regional Investigations team and Manchester City Council, reports Wales Online. Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western, said: "Our social security system exists to support the most vulnerable in society and those genuinely in need. "We will continue to take legal action to fight those trying to scam the system and if anyone thinks they can get away with it this case shows that they will be brought to justice. "Joint working between the DWP and local authorities will protect taxpayers' money while ensuring genuine claimants receive the money they are entitled to." Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Finances and Resource for Manchester City Council, added: "We know that in Manchester there are a great number of people who are genuine beneficiaries of the benefit system and put their trust in it to deliver the support they need. For many it has been a lifeline through one of the most difficult economic climates in a generation. "This case was an example of how the trust inherent in our benefits system was abused for personal gain. I would like to thank our officers for their tireless work to detect this fraud, as well as our colleagues in the DWP for ensuring a successful prosecution." This prosecution forms part of a broader wave of successful legal action safeguarding public funds in recent months. In June, a Port Talbot couple were handed suspended prison sentences of between six months and two years after fraudulently claiming £48,517 in Universal Credit whilst hiding their capital assets. A woman from Swansea was convicted the same month for submitting false childcare claims, creating counterfeit invoices to secure payments for costs she hadn't actually incurred. She was given a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with a community service order. A couple from St Helens were each slapped with two-year prison sentences after fraudulently claiming over £268,000 through offences including bogus Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims and a Local Authority Direct Payment. They used phony identities and claimed Employment Support Allowance as single individuals despite living together. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has stated that these successful prosecutions come as the UK Government is beefing up its ability to combat fraud and identify genuine errors more quickly, via the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill. This legislation is expected to save taxpayers £1.5 billion over the next five years.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
DWP gives warning to millions of Brits as woman jailed for £110,000 fraud
The Department for Work and Pensions has issued a stark warning to 24 million people in the UK following a ten-year campaign of fraud that has led to a woman falsely claiming £110,000 from the governement The number of people are currently receiving at least one benefit from the government has reached 24 million, with a record-breaking eight million people now on Universal Credit. But the government has now issued a stark warning following a rise in claims that benefit fraud will now be detected and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The stern warning comes after a Manchester woman was sentenced to 20 months in prison. The 51-year-old was found guilty of pocketing £110,000 in benefits she wasn't entitled to after she failed to tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that her living situation had changed. She pleaded guilty to four counts of benefit fraud at Manchester Magistrates' Court on August 12 having falsely claiming Job Seeker's Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support between 2013 and 2023. It comes as DWP confirms new Winter Fuel Payment deadline with pensioners urged to act now. The case came to light after an anonymous tip which prompted a joint investigation by the DWP Pensions Regional Investigations team along with Manchester City Council, the Manchester Evening News reports. Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western, said following the legal case: "Our social security system exists to support the most vulnerable in society and those genuinely in need. "We will continue to take legal action to fight those trying to scam the system and if anyone thinks they can get away with it this case shows that they will be brought to justice." "Joint working between the DWP and local authorities will protect taxpayers' money while ensuring genuine claimants receive the money they are entitled to." Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Finances and Resource for Manchester City Council, added: "We know that in Manchester there are a great number of people who are genuine beneficiaries of the benefit system and put their trust in it to deliver the support they need. For many it has been a lifeline through one of the most difficult economic climates in a generation. "This case was an example of how the trust inherent in our benefits system was abused for personal gain. I would like to thank our officers for their tireless work to detect this fraud, as well as our colleagues in the DWP for ensuring a successful prosecution." The case forms part of a broader trend of successful prosecutions safeguarding taxpayers' money in recent months. In June, a couple from Port Talbot were handed suspended prison sentences ranging from six months to two years after claiming £48,517 in Universal Credit payments whilst failing to declare their capital assets. During the same month, a woman from Swansea was found guilty after making fraudulent childcare claims, uploading fabricated invoices to claim childcare costs she never incurred. She was given a 6-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to carry out unpaid work. A couple from St Helens received two-year prison sentences each after fraudulently obtaining more than £268,000 through offences including bogus Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims and a Local Authority Direct Payment, using false identities, whilst also claiming Employment Support Allowance as a single person despite living together. The DWP stated these successful prosecutions arrive as the UK Government strengthens its capacity to combat fraud and detect genuine mistakes more quickly, through the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill. The Bill will save taxpayers £1.5 billion over the next five years.
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Wales Online
DWP issues stark warning to benefit claimants after woman jailed for 20 months
DWP issues stark warning to benefit claimants after woman jailed for 20 months The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a warning to millions of benefit claimants after a woman was jailed for 20 months after a court found her guilty of benefit fraud Work and Pensions minister Andrew Western vowed to take legal action against benefit fraudsters (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire) Almost 24 million people throughout Great Britain are presently in receipt of at least one benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), with a record 8 million now claiming Universal Credit. Throughout Greater Manchester, approximately 145,000 individuals are receiving this primary benefit whilst maintaining some form of employment. But the Government has issued a stark warning as claims continue to rise that benefit fraud will be identified and pursued through the courts to the maximum extent possible, following a Manchester woman being sentenced to 20 months imprisonment. The 51-year-old woman was convicted of fraudulently obtaining £110,000 in benefits to which she had no entitlement after neglecting to notify the DWP of changes to her living circumstances. The woman admitted guilt to four charges of benefit fraud at Manchester Magistrates Court on 12 August, having dishonestly claimed Job Seeker's Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support between April 2013 and April 2023. The matter emerged following an anonymous tip, which prompted a collaborative investigation between the DWP Pensions Regional Investigations team and Manchester City Council, reports the Manchester Evening News. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western, declared: "Our social security system exists to support the most vulnerable in society and those genuinely in need. Article continues below "We will continue to take legal action to fight those trying to scam the system and if anyone thinks they can get away with it this case shows that they will be brought to justice. "Joint working between the DWP and local authorities will protect taxpayers' money while ensuring genuine claimants receive the money they are entitled to." The UK Government has sent a clear message that benefit fraud will be detected and pursued to the full extent of the law. (Image: Getty ) Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Finances and Resource for Manchester City Council, added: "We know that in Manchester there are a great number of people who are genuine beneficiaries of the benefit system and put their trust in it to deliver the support they need. For many it has been a lifeline through one of the most difficult economic climates in a generation. "This case was an example of how the trust inherent in our benefits system was abused for personal gain. I would like to thank our officers for their tireless work to detect this fraud, as well as our colleagues in the DWP for ensuring a successful prosecution." This prosecution represents part of a wider pattern of successful legal action protecting public funds in recent months, according to the Daily Record. In June, a Port Talbot couple received suspended jail terms of between six months and two years following their fraudulent claims for £48,517 in Universal Credit whilst concealing their capital assets. The same month saw a Swansea woman convicted for submitting false childcare claims, creating fake invoices to obtain payments for costs she had never actually paid. She received a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, alongside a community service order. A couple from St Helens have each been handed two-year prison sentences after fraudulently claiming over £268,000 through offences including false Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims and a Local Authority Direct Payment. They used fake identities and claimed Employment Support Allowance as single individuals despite cohabiting. Article continues below The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said that these successful prosecutions come as the UK Government is bolstering its ability to fight fraud and identify genuine errors more swiftly, via the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill. This legislation is projected to save taxpayers £1.5 billion over the forthcoming five years.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
DWP crackdown on benefit fraud as woman jailed for wrongly claiming £110,000
The UK Government has issued a stern warning that benefit fraud will be detected and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, following the sentencing of a Manchester woman to 20 months in prison Nearly 24 million people across Great Britain are currently receiving at least one benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with a record-breaking eight million people now claiming Universal Credit. However, the UK Government has delivered a stark warning that benefit fraud will be uncovered and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, following the sentencing of a Manchester woman to 20 months behind bars. The 51 year old woman was found guilty of stealing £110,000 in benefits she wasn't entitled to after failing to inform the DWP of changes to her living circumstances. Meanwhile, the Mirror reports of ' state pensioners could lose DWP payments after 'unfair' £10,000 rule '. The woman admitted guilt to four counts of benefit fraud at Manchester Magistrates Court on August 12, having dishonestly claimed Job Seeker's Allowance; Employment Support Allowance; Housing Benefit; and Council Tax Support between April 2013 and April 2023. The case emerged following an anonymous tip-off, which triggered a joint investigation by the DWP Pensions Regional Investigations team and Manchester City Council, reports the Express. Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western, stated: "Our social security system exists to support the most vulnerable in society and those genuinely in need". He added that they "will continue to take legal action to fight those trying to scam the system" and warned that "if anyone thinks they can get away with it, this case shows that they will be brought to justice". The minister stated: "Joint working between the DWP and local authorities will protect taxpayers' money while ensuring genuine claimants receive the money they are entitled to". Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Finances and Resource for Manchester City Council, shared: "We know that in Manchester there are a great number of people who are genuine beneficiaries of the benefit system and put their trust in it to deliver the support they need. For many it has been a lifeline through one of the most difficult economic climates in a generation". Akbar continued: "This case was an example of how the trust inherent in our benefits system was abused for personal gain". The councillor added his thanks to the "officers for their tireless work to detect this fraud, as well as colleagues in the DWP for ensuring a successful prosecution". The prosecution forms part of a wider pattern of successful court cases protecting public funds in recent months. One such example was made in June, where a couple from Port Talbot received suspended jail terms ranging from six months to two years after stealing £48,517 in Universal Credit whilst hiding their capital assets. During the same month, a woman from Swansea was convicted after submitting bogus childcare claims by uploading fake invoices to claim childcare costs she had never actually paid. She received a six-month prison sentence, which was suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to carry out unpaid work. Additionally, a couple from St Helens have each been handed two-year prison sentences after fraudulently claiming over £268,000 through offences, including false Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims and a Local Authority Direct Payment. This was carried out using fake identities, as well as claiming Employment Support Allowance as a single person despite cohabiting. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has stated that these successful prosecutions come as the UK Government is strengthening its ability to fight fraud and identify genuine errors even sooner, through the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill. This Bill is expected to save taxpayers £1.5 billion over the next five years.
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
DWP confirms legal action to fight people trying to cheat the benefits system
The UK Government has sent a clear message that benefit fraud will be detected and pursued to the full extent of the law. Nearly 24 million people across Great Britain are in receipt of at least one benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with a record-high of 8m now claiming Universal Credit. However, the UK Government has sent a clear message that benefit fraud will be detected and pursued to the full extent of the law after a woman from Manchester was sentenced to 20 months in prison. The 51-year-old pocketed £110,000 of benefits she was not entitled to after failing to declare to DWP that she no longer lived alone. The woman admitted four counts of benefit fraud at Manchester Magistrates Court on August 12 after falsely claiming Job Seeker's Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support between April 2013 and April 2023. The case emerged following an anonymous tip-off, prompting a joint investigation by the DWP Pensions Regional Investigations team and Manchester City Council. Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western said: 'Our social security system exists to support the most vulnerable in society and those genuinely in need. 'We will continue to take legal action to fight those trying to scam the system and if anyone thinks they can get away with it this case shows that they will be brought to justice. "Joint working between the DWP and local authorities will protect taxpayers' money while ensuring genuine claimants receive the money they are entitled to.' Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Finances and Resource for Manchester City Council, added: 'We know that in Manchester there are a great number of people who are genuine beneficiaries of the benefit system and put their trust in it to deliver the support they need. For many it has been a lifeline through one of the most difficult economic climates in a generation. 'This case was an example of how the trust inherent in our benefits system was abused for personal gain. I would like to thank our officers for their tireless work to detect this fraud, as well as our colleagues in the DWP for ensuring a successful prosecution.' The case forms part of a wider pattern of successful prosecutions protecting taxpayer's money in recent months. In June, a couple from Port Talbot received suspended prison sentences ranging from six months to two years after claiming £48,517 in Universal Credit payments while failing to declare their capital assets. In the same month, a woman from Swansea was convicted after making false childcare claims, uploading fake invoices to claim childcare costs she never incurred. She received a 6-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to carry out unpaid work. A couple from St Helens landed two years each in prison after fraudulently claiming over £268,000 for offences including false Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims and a Local Authority Direct Payment, by using fake identities, as well as claiming Employment Support Allowance as a single person despite cohabitating. The DWP said these successful prosecutions come as the UK Government is strengthening its ability to fight fraud and identify genuine errors even sooner, through the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill. The Bill will save the taxpayer £1.5 billion over the next five years. To tackle fraud and error in the benefits system further the UK Government has brought forward the biggest fraud crackdown in a generation, part of wider plans that the OBR estimated will save £9.6 billion by 2030. This means taxpayer's money can be invested in public services as part of the government's Plan for Change. You can anonymously report suspected benefit fraud online at by phone, or by post. DWP urges people to include as much detail as possible about the person and the type of fraud you suspect. Change of circumstances you need to report to DWP DWP guidance on states you need to report changes in your circumstances so that you keep getting the right amount each month. It adds you need to report changes 'as soon as they happen' because any delay 'may mean you receive too much money and will have to make a repayment'. DWP warns: 'Changes in your circumstances can affect how much you're paid for your whole assessment period - not just from the date you report them.' Changes can include: Finding a job Finishing a job Having a child Moving in with your partner Starting to care for a child Starting to care for a disabled person Your child stopping or restarting education or training, if they're aged 16 to 19 Changing your mobile number Changing your email address Moving to a new address Going outside Great Britain for any length of time, if you live there Going outside Northern Ireland for any length of time, if you live there Changing your bank details Your rent going up or down Changes to your health condition Becoming too ill to work or meet your work coach Changes to your earnings (only if you're self-employed) Changes to your savings, investments and how much money you have Changes to your immigration status, if you're not a British citizen How to report a change DWP advises that claimants can report a change of circumstances by signing in to their online Universal Credit account. If you get a job or increase the hours you work Use a benefits calculator or speak with your work coach to find out how getting a job or an increase in your earnings might affect your Universal Credit claim. Most employers will report your earnings for you. You will normally only need to report monthly earnings if you are self-employed. If you have been paid too much by DWP You may have to repay the money if you: did not report a change straight away gave wrong information were overpaid by mistake Full details about benefit overpayments can be found on here.
