TWO parents dishonestly claimed more than £13,000 in Universal Credit after not reporting that their children had been taken away from them three years before.
Prosecutor Harry Dickens said that Niomi Woodhouse and John Simon lived together with a child in Haverfordwest. A second child was born in January 2020 and this was reported to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Swansea Crown Court heard that the couple were in receipt of Universal Credit as they were unable to work due to health issues.
Mr Dickens said that Woodhouse told the DWP in June 2021 she was the lead carer for two children, and explicitly said that there were two children in the house.
However, on July 17 last year Pembrokeshire council confirmed that the both children had been taken into care on February 21, 2020.
This meant, Mr Dickens said, the couple had been overpaid £13,228.78 in Universal Credit.
He told the court that, during this period, the defendants had more than 100 interactions with the DWP without reporting this change in circumstances.
In interview, Woodhouse initially told the DWP that she was waiting for a social worker to help her fill in a form to notify them of the change in circumstances, whilst Simon said that he left things like this to Woodhouse and thought the change had been reported – but didn’t check it himself.
Both defendants pleaded guilty at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on September 10 to dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting entitlement to Universal Credit.
The court heard that they both had no previous convictions.
The prosecutor told the court that the money was now being repaid – with it being deducted from the pair’s benefits – so Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings were not required.
Judge Huw Rees set out the sentence he was considering, and asked Stuart John, for Simon, and Ashanti-Jade Walton, for Woodhouse, if they wanted to make any further mitigation.
“Ms Woodhouse has now spoken to social services and they are now aware of her current position,” Ms Walton said, adding that the defendant was receiving support to remain drug-free.
Sentencing the pair, Judge Rees said: “This was thorough dishonesty by both of you.
“This is not a minor offence at all.
“It has an effect on the economy.”
Both defendants were sentenced to 10 weeks, suspended for a year.
Woodhouse, 31, of Maes Hafren in Eglwyswrw, must complete a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, whilst Simon, 35, of London Road in Pembroke Dock, must complete 120 hours of unpaid work.
“I’m content that this money is going to be received from you,” Judge Rees said.