East Suffolk Council
East Suffolk resident sentenced for Council Tax fraud
A 24-year-old woman from Felixstowe has been handed a suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay £1,200 in costs for fraudulently claiming a reduction on her council tax.
Sophie Senski, formerly of Coastguard Walk, Felixstowe appeared for sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court on 6 June, having previously pleaded guilty at a hearing in April.
Senski admitted failing to declare another adult was living in her household, which enabled her to continue to receive a 25% single person discount on her council tax account, failing to declare another adult in the household when claiming for council tax support and council tax reduction, and failing to declare she held capital above the £16,000 limit when claiming for council tax reduction.
In total, Senski was overpaid £3,643.20 in council tax support and £2,080.45 in single person discount.
She was handed a 36-week prison sentence, suspended for 2 years, along with 25 days’ rehabilitation activity requirement, 100 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £1,200 towards prosecution costs, as well as a £154 statutory victim surcharge.
An East Suffolk Council spokesperson said: “Single person households are eligible for a 25% discount on their council tax and those on low incomes may also be eligible to pay a reduced rate of council tax. It is essential that any changes to a household, such as a partner moving in or leaving, is reported to the council tax team as soon as possible, so that the amount you pay fairly reflects your circumstances. We are pleased with the outcome of this case, where the person was purposefully dishonest in failing to report her change of circumstances so that she could continue to benefit from lower payments."
The prosecution was jointly brought by Anglia Revenues Partnership and East Suffolk Council.
Report a change to your circumstances which may affect your council tax.