A MAN who failed to promptly declare that his partner was in work has been ordered to pay back £2,367.98 worth of benefits.

On Thursday at Alloa Sheriff Court, Dale Preston admitted failing to give prompt notification to the Department for Work and Pensions of a change in circumstances which he knew affected his entitlement to Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance.

Between March 10, 2013 and February 10, 2014, Preston’s partner was in receipt of income from employment with NHS Forth Valley.

Preston eventually declared this, but obtained £1387.02 of Jobseekers Allowance and £980.96 of Employment and Support Allowance to which he was not entitled.

The 35-year-old, of Sunnyside Court in Alloa, was said to have suffered a serious illness and was going through financial difficulties at the time.
The accused has since rebuilt his business and was making arrangements to repay the money.

Sheriff David Mackie said that he was “sorry” to see Preston in court and took his personal situation in respect to his illness and financial difficulties into account before ordering him to pay back all the money wrongly received.