Team work nets benefit cheat with £26,000 in bank

A government data matching exercise revealed that a Windsor benefit cheat who received more than £23,000 in benefit overpayments had over £26,000 in the bank.

Tracy Asbery, 43, of Wyatt Road, pleaded guilty at East Berkshire Magistrates' Court Maidenhead on 11 November to two offences of failing to give a prompt notification of a change affecting entitlement.

At East Berkshire Magistrates' Court Slough on Friday 2 December Ms Asbery was ordered to pay compensation of £5,000, costs of £300 and given a three year conditional discharge. The balance of the overpayment will be collected by the Royal Borough's debt recovery team through an agreement with Ms Asbery.

The government data matching exercise revealed Ms Asbery had failed to declare capital of £26,200 in an undeclared savings account when she made her claim for housing benefit in June 2007.

The offences, under Section 112 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 and Housing Benefit Regulations 2006, resulted in overpayments of £23,589.90 in housing benefit and £71.80 in council tax benefit between 11 June 2007 and 18 April 2011.

Cllr Richard Kellaway, cabinet member for finance, said: "The Royal Borough and its partner organisations work closely together to fight benefit fraud. We also invite members of the public to contact us if they suspect benefit fraud.

"I would strongly advise anyone who has received overpayments to contact us as soon as possible so that the issue can be resolved."

The council's confidential and free Beat the Cheat line for reporting suspected benefit fraud is on 0500 353300.

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