Social Security rejects alleged difficulties with enforcement

Monday 29 July 2019

Jersey's Social Security team has rejected suggestions a lack of staff was behind a two year delay in bringing a £34,000 benefit fraud case to court.

Earlier this month, a mother-of-three, who falsely claimed over £34,000 in benefits, avoided jail over fears her children would have to be sent into care.

The 27-year-old appeared in the Magistrate's Court where she was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to Social Security fraud.

The Court heard that she had received an increased claim over a three-year period after advising the Social Security Department she was no longer with her partner, when in fact they were still living together - and even went on to have a child together.

The matter came to the attention of Social Security’s fraud department after the woman and her partner made an application for affordable housing in March 2017, but the case wasn't concluded until this month. 

Pictured: Social Security has defenced how long it took them to progress the case. 

In court it was suggested that the delay was caused by a lack of resources at Social Security, but that's now been rejected by the department. 

“This case began with an application for affordable housing in May 2017, which triggered an investigation,” Steve Jackson, Group Director for Customer Operations at Customer and Local Services, explained.

“The findings of this initial investigation led to an interview under caution in August 2018, and a decision by the Fraud Board to pursue prosecution in October. The case file was passed to the Law Officers in February 2019 and the case concluded with sentencing today (19 July).”

Mr Jackson said the department currently has five employees working exclusively on enforcement, adding that there are neither staff shortages in the team or backlog of cases.

“Preparing robust evidence for a successful prosecution takes time and perseverance, and the department’s current resources are adequate for this work,” he explained. “If demands on the team increase, then the level of staffing will be re-examined. 

“We work very hard to deter and detect fraud and are extremely grateful to the support of islanders who provide intelligence. Anyone with information can complete an anonymous referral online or call the fraud hotline on +44 (0) 800 7351111.”