AN ALBURY man who wrongly claimed nearly $30,000 in Centrelink benefits while working has been given a suspended jail term and will be forced to pay the cash back.
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A magistrate has told Albury Local Court the crime had taken money from everyone in the community and “let the system down”.
Jason Brett Krueger, 44, was paid $32,899 in Newstart benefits from January 2012 to October 2014.
He was working at an Olive Street business as a casual delivery driver from late 2011 to March 2014, and was paid cash.
Krueger earned $65,316 – about $450 a week on average – but failed to correctly inform the government welfare agency.
On 19 occasions, he falsely claimed to have had no income to declare.
The whole of the community is supporting that system ... you let the system down
- Magistrate Erin Kennedy
He under-declared his income to Centrelink on 54 occasions.
Krueger took ten times the welfare he was entitled to.
Magistrate Erin Kennedy said people expected welfare recipients to be honest, and noted the cash he had received came from the community.
“The whole of the community is supporting that system,” she said.
“You let the system down.
“You let the community down.”
Krueger has repaid some of the $29,672 he was overpaid but still owes $24,917 to the government.
He was formally ordered to repay the money by the magistrate on Wednesday.
Ms Kennedy said the fact he had repaid some of the cash showed he was remorseful.
She noted he had also been assessed as a low risk of re-offending.
His information had been cross referenced with the Australian Taxation Office in September 2013 and he was notified in November 2013.
Centrelink then wrote to him in March 2015, asking him to be formally interviewed, but Krueger didn’t respond.
He was charged with receiving financial advantage from a Commonwealth entity.
The magistrate said it was lucky he was detected when he was.
She warned Krueger not to commit any offences during a 10-month suspended sentence or he could face the prospect of time behind bars.
