A pensioner has been jailed for more than a year after swindling nearly £75,000 in benefits.
George Young lied to the authorities for six years, claiming he wasn’t earning enough cash to allow him to support himself – while really working as a painter and decorator.
The 68-year-old fraudulently claimed just over £73,000 in pension credits, housing tax benefits and council tax benefits.
Young admitted the scam when he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court last month, and returned yesterday for sentencing.
The offences happened between April 2008 and April 2014, and the court previously heard that when he had originally started working for Aberdeenshire Decorating Services he was not getting paid. But as time went on, the work became more permanent and he began earning a wage – which he did not tell the authorities about.
Fiscal Alan Townsend said: “The incident itself came to light when the accused applied for benefits while in employment.
“There was a change in circumstances and he failed to inform the authorities of such.
“He was employed with Aberdeenshire Decorating Services as a painter and decorator between 2004 and 2010 but the accused continued to receive money into his account.”
Defence lawyer John Hardie said his client had started to work for the firm to help someone out and said he had initially not been paid for his time.
In total Young, of Northbank Farmhouse, Westhill, pocketed £52,359 in pension credit from the Department of Work and Pensions he was not entitled to.
He also fraudulently took £16,212 in housing tax benefits and £4,518 in council tax benefits from Aberdeenshire Council.
Sheriff Graeme Napier yesterday jailed him for 61 weeks.