A Welsh couple have gained £48,500 in universal credit over a four-year period after they did not disclose that they owned a second property which they were renting out, a court has heard.
A judge told Swansea Crown Court that "stealing from the state is not an insignificant matter" with the prosecutor describing the application for benefit payments as "fraudulent from the outset".
Brian Rowe, 63, and Frances Rowe, 58, both of Vivian Park Drive, Port Talbot had not declared thatthey owned a second property on the street where they lived, valued at around £170,000 when the claim was made.
If declared, this significant investment, which the pair had owned for nearly 20 years, would have made them ineligible for universal credit.
Brian Rowe and Frances Rowe had not declared that they owned a second property on the street where they lived for nearly 20 years
Ryan Bowen, prosecuting, told the court that in February 2019, the Rowes declared they had savings and investments of capital of less than £,6000 when claiming the universal credit benefit.
The fraudulent payments were given to the couple a month after the false claim was approved.
The pair had previously pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances when they appeared in the dock.
The prosecutor told the court that the couple charged rent of £500 per month on the property that was registered under Mrs Rowe.
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A judge told Swansea Crown Court that 'stealing from the state is not an insignificant matter'
He added that in December 2013, a claim for housing benefit had been made in respect of the second property.
The court heard that as a result of the false declaration made by the defendants, between February, 2019, and August, 2023, the couple received £48,517 in overpayments they were not entitled to.
Huw Davies, representing both defendants, said the couple had re-mortgaged their home to raise money and had already started paying back what they owed.
Judge Geraint Walters said it was clear from what he had read that the motivation for the offending had been financial.
The couple, who received one-third discounts for their guilty pleas, were sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years
PAFrances has no previous convictions, while Brian has one previous conviction for one offence of criminal damage.
He could not work at the time of the application due to ill-health, leaving the couple with just Frances income.
The couple, who received one-third discounts for their guilty pleas, were sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years.
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