COUNCIL officials have defended a deal to let a benefit cheat pay back money at just £7 a week.
Sandra Nicholl, of Elland, swindled almost £23,000 out of Calderdale Council.
But the deal outlined in court this week means she will have to live to the age of 111 to pay back the money.
She was handed a suspended jail term for her crimes.
Calderdale Council’s head of customer services and communications, Ann Wardle, said: “The Housing Benefit regulations allow for overpaid benefit to be recovered from ongoing entitlement.
“The amount that can be recovered each week from any benefit entitlement is prescribed in the regulations.
“The council also has a duty to ensure that in setting the rate of deduction, this does not cause undue hardship.
“Following a conviction for fraud the council can review and increase the rate at which the debt is recovered”.
