Community order for Widnes benefit cheat (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Community order for Widnes benefit cheat

8:20am Monday 28th December 2009 in News

A WOMAN who failed to tell authorities about an inheritance of £17,000 has been handed a community order.

Kelly Morris, of Fulbeck, Widnes, admitted an offence of dishonestly failing to promptly notify the council of a change in circumstances.

She appeared at Runcorn Magistrates Court last Thursday and was recieved a 12-month community order with a requirement to undertake 50 hours’ unpaid work.

The 33-year-old must also pay a contribution of £100 towards the council’s costs and repay the overpayment of benefit to the council.

The court heard Morris’s claim for housing and council tax benefit should be cancelled between 2002 and 2004. This resulted in an overpayment of housing benefit of £5,071.63 and a council tax benefit overpayment of £885.59.