Child Tax Credits fraud - likely punishments?
Discussion
This is not a thread about me 
If, hypothetically speaking, a person had continued to claim Child Tax Credits after 'custody' (not the right word, I know) had been granted to the other parent of their child, what potential punishment would they face after about a year of doing so?
I'm aware that the DSS (or whatever they are called now) will reclaim what they can in terms of Child Benefit (which is not Child Tax Credits), and that prison can be a punishment in some cases, but how severe are the penalties generally speaking?
Is there a 'punishment guidelines document', in the same way that there are set boundaries for punishments depending on how much a speed limit is exceeded?
Asking for a friend!
If, hypothetically speaking, a person had continued to claim Child Tax Credits after 'custody' (not the right word, I know) had been granted to the other parent of their child, what potential punishment would they face after about a year of doing so?
I'm aware that the DSS (or whatever they are called now) will reclaim what they can in terms of Child Benefit (which is not Child Tax Credits), and that prison can be a punishment in some cases, but how severe are the penalties generally speaking?
Is there a 'punishment guidelines document', in the same way that there are set boundaries for punishments depending on how much a speed limit is exceeded?
Asking for a friend!
I have very limited knowledge except a guy who worked for and his wife got caught out, it was fraud/theft in so far as it was intentional and they used deceit.
What surprised me, in a positive way was the seriousness it was treated with. They both got criminal convictions although not prison, but prior to sentencing it was not a given that they weren't going away.
They couldn't pay the money back quick enough.
I had a discussion with people and we arrived at the conclusion, the size of the thing has some bearing but what really gets them is deceit or false information.
What surprised me, in a positive way was the seriousness it was treated with. They both got criminal convictions although not prison, but prior to sentencing it was not a given that they weren't going away.
They couldn't pay the money back quick enough.
I had a discussion with people and we arrived at the conclusion, the size of the thing has some bearing but what really gets them is deceit or false information.
Thanks for the replies 
Let's imagine that the hypothetical person in question lives off the State (which is paying the rent and all other benefits), has previous form for benefits fraud some years ago, and that said person has apparently recently alluded to 'having to move away for a while' and that the child 'might not be able to see them' for a bit...
Let's imagine that the hypothetical person in question lives off the State (which is paying the rent and all other benefits), has previous form for benefits fraud some years ago, and that said person has apparently recently alluded to 'having to move away for a while' and that the child 'might not be able to see them' for a bit...
Edited by RSTurboPaul on Thursday 11th March 18:26
https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/magi...
But you'll just have to wait foryour the hypothetical person's day in court. If it gets that far.
But you'll just have to wait for
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