Runcorn man admits failing to declare his pension

Peter Moran, aged 55, of Framlington Court, Runcorn, admitted six offences of making false statements on applications for housing and council tax benefit.

He received a 12 week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months, a 12 week curfew from 7pm to 7am, and was ordered to pay £150 costs and repay £17,428 to the council.

Three times, Moran said he had no other income when he had an occupation pension.

He said he had no other bank accounts, on three occasions, when he had an undeclared bank account He claimed housing and council tax benefit since May 2002.

Moran claimed the benefits for a flat in Keepers Walk, Castlefields, on December 14, 2005 and April 6, 2007, and for his home in Framlington Court, on July 1, 2009.

He declared his income was from incapacity benefit and that he only had a post office account.

In June, 2011, Halton Council’s benefit investigatiion unit received a fraud referral that Moran had an occupational pension since 1992.

He received a lump sum in January, 2003, and receives monthly payments.

When interviewed, Moran admitted having an occupational pension and not declaring it.

He also admitted that his pension is paid into his account and he failed to declare it on his application forms.

His benefit claim was amended by the council’s adjudication officer back to May, 2002, to include his pension.

Moran now has to repay £13,165 housing benefit and £4,262 council tax benefit.