BENEFIT fraud officers caught out a York man who was claiming two different types of income support, despite working full-time.

Richard Ward, 47, of Tudor Road, Acomb, received benefits worth more than £2,500 to which he was not entitled, York magistrates heard.

The court was told he claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit while working. He had originally been unemployed and claiming Job Seekers' Allowance as a single man.

But he failed to report to the council that his allowance ended on January 27, 2004, after he found employment.

He did not inform the council for ten months that his circumstances had changed, and only did so when he was visited by one of the council's verification officers in October 2004.

As a result Ward was overpaid £2,041.81 in Housing Benefit and £526.42 in Council Tax benefit. Ward was fined £150 and ordered to pay £500 in costs.

Max Thomas, audit and fraud manager at City of York Council, said: "The council is committed to making sure that customers receive their full entitlement to benefits.

"However, the council is also alert to possible fraud of the benefit system and will take appropriate action against anyone found to be making false claims.

"This includes situations, such as this, where information relevant to a claim, including changes in circumstances, is deliberately withheld."

In March, Juliet Sandford, 29, of Spindle Close, was convicted of 12 counts of fraud in a joint prosecution on behalf of City of York Council and the Department of Work and Pensions, at Leeds Crown Court.

She received a 12-month prison sentence after the court heard she claimed income support, housing and council tax benefit for herself and her three children since December 2000.

Her claim was based on being a single parent with no financial support. But working on a tip-off from a member of the public, York council discovered that she lived with the employed partner and father of her children, Kevin Winn.

The court heard that as a result Sandford defrauded the Department of Work and Pensions of £13,460 in Income Support and the York council of £9,586 in housing benefit and £1,444 in Council Tax.

The 24-hour benefit fraud hotline - that can be used in confidence - is 01904 552935.

Updated: 11:13 Tuesday, August 30, 2005