Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Woman accused of £32k benefits fraud
A WOMAN has been accused of fraudulently claiming more than £32,000 of benefits.
Kelly Traynor, 30, of Sowerby Place in the Downfield area, appeared in private on petition before Sheriff Tom Hughes at Dundee.
It is alleged that she fraudulently obtained benefits amounting to more than £32,000.
Traynor is alleged to have obtained income support amounting to £11,159.09 to which she was not entitled by failing to inform the Department for Work and Pensions of a change in her circumstances in that she was living with her partner and maintaining a common household with him between January 14 2013 and January 29 2016, at properties in Baffin Street and Sowerby Place.
It is also alleged that between May 19 2016 and June 5 2016, at Sowerby Place, Traynor knowingly made a false statement to the DWP and obtained jobseekers allowance amounting to £187.97, to which she was not entitled.
Traynor is also alleged to have, between January 14 2013 and January 31 2016, at Baffin Street and Sowerby Place, failed to inform Dundee City Council of the change in her circumstances and obtained housing benefit of £20,283.63 and £149.02 of council tax benefit to which she was not entitled.
Prosecutors also allege that between May 12, 2016 and June 12, 2016, at Sowerby Place, she knowingly made a false statement to officials of Dundee City Council on an application form for council tax benefit that she lived alone and had no partner, the truth being that her husband was living with her and maintaining a common household and obtained £586.01 of housing benefit to which she was not entitled.
The total amount of benefit she was not entitled to came to £32,364.82, prosecutors allege.
Traynor made no plea and was granted bail, with the case continued for further examination.