Crackdown success on benefits cheats in Spain

A BRITISH woman has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for benefits fraud amounting to £42,558.72 (€50,185), a foreign office statement revealed.

Debbie Williamson from Rotherham ‘stole’ UK benefits between 2004 and 2009.

Although she denied any connection with Spain, investigators discovered she owned property in Valencia, had made regular cash withdrawals abroad and had her daughter in a local Spanish school.

Williamson is just one of many cases that make up the estimated £79 million (€93m) of benefit fraud committed abroad.

More information on UK benefits whilst living in Spain visit www.direct.gov.uk. If you know of someone committing UK benefit fraud whilst living in Spain, such as claiming a non-exportable benefit, working in Spain while in receipt of UK incapacity benefit, or claiming benefit as a single person but living with a partner, you can help to protect the taxpayers’ money.

A free and confidential Benefit Fraud Hotline is available in Spain – call 900 554 440 or click on http://campaigns.dwp.gov.uk/campaigns/benefit-thieves/english.asp to help UK investigators close the net on the benefit thieves.