Shock Court Case: Couple in Court Over Alleged Universal Credit Fraud Case

A husband and wife have appeared in court after being accused of dishonestly claiming Universal Credit payments they were not eligible to receive.

Jeffrey Beal, 43, and Michelle Hanna Beal, 41, both residents of Cambridge Street in Millom, entered not guilty pleas to a charge relating to the alleged failure to disclose financial information. The charge claims the pair acted dishonestly in order to gain financially from the benefits system.

Court records state that the alleged offence occurred over a one-year period, between March 7, 2022, and March 7, 2023. Prosecutors allege that the couple failed to inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that they held capital exceeding the permitted limit, despite having a legal obligation to do so.

It is claimed that this omission allowed them to receive Universal Credit payments they would not otherwise have been entitled to.

The case will now proceed to Preston Crown Court, where both defendants are scheduled to attend a plea and trial preparation hearing at 10am on May 26. Further proceedings will determine the next steps in the case.