Court

Norwich man faces £17,000 repayment for not declaring RAF pension

Mark Shields Friday, August 10, 2012
9:11 AM

A former RAF serviceman faces having to repay more than £17,000 after failing to declare his military pension to benefits officials.

Anthony Reed, 54, of Northfields, Eaton, received council tax and housing benefit for six-and-a-half years, starting in September 2004, despite his pension being paid into an undeclared bank account.

He then failed to disclose the account to authorities on three subsequent occasions, and was overpaid a total of £17,610.13.

Reed pleaded guilty to one charge of making dishonest representations and three charges of making false statements to obtain benefits.

He told magistrates he did not realise he had to declare the account and pension because the income was so low but, since finding out his error, “I have put my hands up.”

Reed, who has medical, mental health and alcohol issues, will return to court on August 30 following the completion of probation reports.