A Pembroke man who dishonestly claimed almost £3,000 in benefit overpayments has been charged in court.
Thirty-five-year-old Daniel Thomas, of The Green, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court, on Tuesday, to plead guilty to dishonestly failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions of a change of circumstances which would affect his entitlement to Jobseeker’s Allowance, namely that he was working in remunerated employment.
Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court how between September 11, 2015 and June 20, of 2016, he received an overpayment of £2,965.77 in benefits, despite working over this period delivering kitchens on a self-employed basis.
Defence solicitor Mike Kelleher said that his client was of previously clean character and that the matter highlighted the problem of zero hour contracts.
“He was only guaranteed a few hours at the start, but as time went on he worked more,” he explained, stating that the outstanding amount left to pay back from the claims was already being dealt with.
Magistrates fined Mr. Thomas £80 for the offence and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.