Susan Taylor convicted of benefit fraud

Susan Taylor, 55, of Tavistock Road, Rochdale claimed over £12,000 in benefits despite having £70,000 savings in a bank account. 

Bury and Rochdale Magistrates Court heard how Taylor kept her savings secret while claiming housing benefit, council tax benefit, employment support benefit and jobseeker’s allowance between 2008 and 2011.

At an initial hearing on Thursday 13 June, Taylor pleaded guilty to five offences under section 111A(1) (a) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, having made false representation on her benefit claim forms to avoid living on some of her savings.

A week later, Taylor was sentenced to a six month community order requiring her to undergo supervision and alcohol treatment, according to recommendations made by the Probation Service. She was also ordered to pay £250 investigation costs and £250 legal costs.

Councillor Farooq Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Finance at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “This is a case of someone deliberately collecting benefits that they are not entitled to, effectively taking money out of tax payers’ pockets. 

“Unfortunately it can be tempting for those with substantial savings to try and avoid eating into them when they are no longer employed. But it’s deeply unfair to those people who genuinely need support for anyone to make fraudulent claims simply to save a bit of money.

“I applaud our Fraud Officers for mounting a sustained investigation into this case, and I am thoroughly pleased that they achieved a conviction.”