Benefit fraudster uses ‘active’ rehab as excuse

22nd, May 2008

A former mayor of Pembrokeshire who claimed he took ‘active’ rehabilitation too far by becoming a football referee while claiming disability benefits has been sentenced.

Keith McNiffe was receiving benefits for lack of mobility and round the clock care. He was caught refereeing by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) after a tip off. He had started out with a genuine claim, however he had not informed the DWP that his condition had improved enough to be able to exercise.

He received a four months prison sentence suspended for 18 months, 200 hours community service and was asked to pay £75 prosecution costs.

His defence was that his GP had advised him that exercise would improve his condition.

When questioned if they would penalise people on benefits being ‘active’ in their rehabilitation, a DWP spokeswoman explained:

“The ex Mayor of Pembroke was receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the highest rate mobility and care components. In his claim he painted the picture of someone so severely disabled that he was unable to walk.

"DLA is no different to any other benefit, people have a responsibility to report changes in circumstances so that their benefit entitlement may be reviewed and if necessary a new decision made.

“Where a benefit recipient deliberately fails to report a change in his or her circumstance then that person may be investigated and he or she may face prosecution," she added.

The former Mayor is not the first benefit cheat to be caught refereeing. Last year Christopher Stockwell, Carmarthenshire was caught by the DWP in similar circumstances.

Benefit fraudster uses ‘active’ rehab as excuse

A former mayor of Pembrokeshire who claimed he took ‘active’ rehabilitation too far by becoming a football referee while claiming disability benefits has been sentenced.

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