A 58-year-old man has been convicted after claiming almost £71,000 in Universal Credit while declaring that he was single despite living with his partner.
The case highlights how the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) investigates reported changes in claimants’ circumstances, including household arrangements that can affect entitlement to means-tested benefits.
The DWP said the overpayment in this case totalled £70,967.89 and is subject to recovery. The case involved a claim made over several years, with investigators examining financial and social media evidence before the claimant admitted that he had not reported his partner living at the property.
Conviction
Colin Hegarty, 58, of Springfield Road, Blackpool, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court after admitting that he had dishonestly claimed Universal Credit as a single person.
According to the DWP, Hegarty received £70,967.89 in Universal Credit between Feb. 19, 2020, and Sept. 18, 2025.
The court imposed a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
The DWP said the full amount of the overpayment is subject to recovery through its established debt recovery processes.
A conviction in an individual case does not mean that other claimants with similar circumstances have committed an offence. Benefit entitlement depends on the facts of each individual case and the information supplied to the DWP.
Investigation
The investigation began after a member of the public submitted a referral to the DWP in June 2025. The allegation concerned Hegarty’s living arrangements and whether he had correctly reported his circumstances.
DWP investigators subsequently gathered evidence relating to the relationship and household.
The evidence included bank statements that investigators said demonstrated financial links between Hegarty and his partner. Investigators also reviewed social media material.
One Facebook image showed Hegarty becoming engaged to his partner. The DWP said this formed part of the evidence considered during the investigation.
Investigators then interviewed Hegarty under caution.
According to the DWP, he admitted that he had claimed Universal Credit as a single person while his partner was living at the address.
Admission
During the interview, Hegarty acknowledged that he knew his partner’s presence could affect his Universal Credit entitlement.
He told investigators that he believed declaring his partner would affect payments received by another non-dependant living at the property.
The DWP said Hegarty made a full admission during the interview.
The case demonstrates why changes in household circumstances can be important for people receiving means-tested benefits. Universal Credit entitlement is calculated using information about a claimant’s circumstances, including household and financial details.
Claimants are responsible for reporting relevant changes so that the DWP can reassess their entitlement.
Recovery
The DWP said it will seek to recover the £70,967.89 overpayment.
An overpayment does not necessarily mean the entire amount is immediately taken from a claimant. The DWP has established processes for recovering benefit debts, which can include repayment arrangements and deductions from benefits in appropriate circumstances.
The official GOV.UK guidance on Universal Credit overpayments explains how overpayments are handled and what people can do if they disagree with a decision.
The circumstances surrounding recovery can vary between cases. Anyone who receives a notice about a benefit overpayment should review the decision and follow the instructions provided by the DWP.
Council
The Hegarty case comes amid broader efforts by government and local authorities to identify fraud, error and incorrect payments.
Swindon Borough Council reported in July 2024 that its fraud investigators had prevented fraudulent housing applications, recovered properties from fraudulent tenants, stopped illegitimate Right to Buy applications and identified incorrect council tax discounts and exemptions.
The council said these activities had generated or protected more than £3 million for taxpayers over two years.
However, that figure covered several areas of local authority fraud and did not establish how many people had committed benefit fraud specifically.
This distinction is important when interpreting local fraud figures. Housing fraud, council tax issues and benefit fraud involve different schemes, rules and investigative processes.
Safeguards
The government has increased its focus on benefit fraud, overpayments and data-sharing as part of efforts to protect public funds.
Ministers have argued that identifying deliberate fraud helps ensure benefits are paid to people who meet the relevant eligibility requirements.
At the same time, charities and welfare organisations have raised concerns about the potential impact of tougher checks on vulnerable claimants and people who make genuine mistakes.
Fraud and error are not the same thing. A claimant can receive too much money because of an administrative error, misunderstanding or failure to report a change, while deliberate deception can result in a criminal investigation and prosecution.
For claimants, the practical lesson is to report relevant changes in circumstances promptly and keep records of information provided to the DWP.
Reporting
Members of the public can report suspected benefit fraud through the government’s official benefit fraud reporting service.
Reports can also be made through the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440. The government says reports can be made anonymously.
The DWP investigates credible allegations and can work with prosecutors when the evidence supports criminal proceedings.
The Hegarty case was specific to the evidence presented in court. His conviction and the resulting overpayment recovery do not establish that every claimant who fails to update their circumstances has acted dishonestly.
For anyone receiving Universal Credit, reporting changes in living arrangements, income or other relevant circumstances is an important part of maintaining the correct entitlement and avoiding an unexpected overpayment.
