Pensioner Couple in Benefits Scam
28/04/2009 00:53:41
A judge has hit out at a pensioner couple in benefits scam despite winning £72,000 on the National Lottery. Pensioners Brian and Wendy Rushin landed a staggering £72,000 win in 2002 but despite the massive win the couple continued to claim benefits to which they were no longer entitled. The level of deception was such that the couple spread their cash in an array of bank accounts and unbelievably only dipped into their winnings once – to purchase a new refrigerator.
Mrs and Mrs Rushing continued to claim housing and council tax benefits after the win and even declared on their benefits forms that they had no savings whatsoever.
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The judge presiding over the case said it highlighted the behaviour that a National Lottery win brought out in some winners. Instead of bringing the couple happiness, the win actually turned them into misers who despite having a lot of money continued to dip into the benefits pot.
The court heard how the couple were finally caught after council officials checked their benefit claimed and found money belonging to each of them in several undisclosed bank accounts.
The Rushins admitted fraudulently collecting over £5,000 in council tax and housing benefit payments they were not entitled to and they were both handed down cash fines by the judge and must pay back every penny they fraudulently claimed.
Sometimes money doesn’t bring you happiness and it certainly doesn’t when it’s sat in the bank and you don’t even know what to do with it. It’s hard to look at this story with anything but sadness. It seems that the Rushins had lived their whole lives on the bread line and even after an astronomical lottery win, just didn’t know what to do with it.
Page Last Updated: 03/06/2010 15:48:35
