The Social Security Administration (Fraud) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997

Offence of dishonest representation for obtaining benefit

12.  After section 105 of the Administration Act insert—

“Dishonest representations for obtaining benefit etc.

105A.— (1) If a person dishonestly—

(a) makes a false statement or representation;

(b) produces or furnishes, or causes or allows to be produced or furnished, any document or information which is false in a material particular;

(c) fails to notify a change of circumstances which regulations under this Act require him to notify; or

(d) causes or allows another person to fail to notify a change of circumstances which such regulations require the other person to notify,

with a view to obtaining any benefit or other payment or advantage under the social security legislation (whether for himself or for some other person), he shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) In this section “the social security legislation” means the legislation to which section 104 above applies and the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both; or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years, or to a fine, or to both.”.