Woman fined for benefit offence

A 63 year old woman received benefits of more than £7,691 she was not entitled to by not declaring income from her late husband's pension, magistrates in Lincoln were told.

Barbara Sandars, of South View, Walesby, Market Rasen, admitted failing to declare her true circumstances whilst claiming housing and council tax benefits and was fined £185. She also has to pay £100 towards costs, a £15 surcharge and will have to repay the overpayment.

The prosecution was brought by West Lindsey District Council who told the Bench that the authority was alerted to a discrepancy in Sandars's claim by differences in the information they held and her tax records.

An investigation began which revealed that an occupational pension was being paid to Sandars from her late husband's employer and this had been the case since the outset of her claim.

Sandars said that her late father had helped her with the claim form and he had told her that the pension did not count as it was unearned income, but she admitted that she did not check with the Council whether this was the case.

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