A MAN made false claims for Universal Credit after seeing a post on Facebook, which said he could receive a 3,000 top-up on his benefits.
William Stanaway’s defence solicitor said the gift horse he had looked in the mouth had 'backfired dramatically', after he shared his login details with a Facebook fraudster.
Stanaway, 33, of Tomlin Avenue, Whitehaven, made an online claim for Universal Credit on March 21, 2020, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.
In his personal circumstances, Stanaway disclosed that he was a single person with no housing costs or children to provide for.
But he had then made false claims to the Department for Work and Pensions that he needed housing costs and was responsible for children, the court was told.
In reality, the address Stanaway was living at was his parents’ property, which they own, and his children live with their mother.
Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said Stanaway had made false claims for credit which were given to him.
An overpayment of 1,144.08 was made on March 24, 2020. He received another payment of 331.44 on April 5, 2020.
Stanaway later admitted he had made a Universal Credit claim online after seeing a Facebook post which said he could receive 3,000 if he had claimed Universal Credit in the past three years.
He had then transferred 430 to a third party account, saying he had to give money because they knew where he lived.
Ms Fee said Stanaway claimed that all subsequent changes on his Universal Credit application were made by a...
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