A BENEFIT cheat fraudulently claimed more than £6,000 whilst he was working, a court has heard.

Andrew Shaw, aged 32, of Drummond Court, Widnes admitted benefit fraud at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on October 1.

He admitted that he had failed to promptly notify Halton Council’s benefit section that he had started work.

He was fined £200 and ordered to pay £150 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Shaw was in receipt of housing benefit and council tax benefit since November 15, 2010.

On 23 September 23, 2013, he told the council he had started work on September 2, 2013 and that his entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA) had stopped some months ago.

Checks with the Department for Work and Pensions confirmed that his claim to ESA had ceased on January 4, 2012. His benefit claim was cancelled on January 9, 2012.

The case was referred to the benefit investigation unit.

Shaw admitted that he had not reported changes in his circumstances to the benefit section when his ESA ended and he had started work.

As a result of his failure to notify changes in his circumstances, he incurred an overpayment of housing benefit and council tax benefit of £6,071.07 from January, 2012 to September, 2013.