Benefit fraudsters double in just two years

In the financial year 2009/10, in the East Londonderry constituency there were 12 people convicted of committing benefit fraud. The following year, there were 16 people convicted in East Londonderry, but by 2011/12 – the most recent financial year for which figures are available – the figure had jumped to 23, nearly double the equivalent figure from three years ago.

There were 10 convictions which included a Housing Benefit overpayment in 2011/2012.

In the neighbouring constituency of Foyle, there were 23 convictions which included a Housing Benefit overpayment in the same year.

The figures were released by Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland in response to questioning at Stormont. He had been asked: “How many people in each constituency have been convicted of housing benefit fraud in each of the last three years,” by South Belfast MLA Jimmy Spratt.

The Minister replied: “The Social Security Agency cannot provide separate information in relation to individuals convicted solely of housing benefit fraud. However, it does hold details of the overall

number of individuals convicted of benefit fraud by constituency in each of the last three years and this information is provided in the table below. Information is available for the 2011/2012 year showing how many of the individuals convicted in that year had an overpayment in respect of housing benefit. This information is not available for earlier years.”