DWP issues stark benefit warning after woman jailed for 20 months

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.

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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.

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