Overview

• The 51-year-old Manchester woman received a 20-month prison sentence on August 12 after admitting four counts of benefit fraud amounting to £110,000.
• She concealed a change in her living arrangements to fraudulently claim Job Seeker’s Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support between 2013 and 2023.
• An anonymous tip-off prompted a joint investigation by the DWP Pensions Regional Investigations team and Manchester City Council that uncovered the scheme.
• Transformation Minister Andrew Western vowed to press legal action against those who cheat the system and emphasised that the social security framework exists to support genuine claimants.
• The government is advancing the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill to bolster detection and recoupment powers as part of efforts to curb overpayments projected at £9.5 billion this year.