Skip to main content
Department for Communities

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Consultations
  • Contact

Translation help

Translate this page

Select a language

  • Arabic — عربي
  • Chinese (Simplified) — 中文简体
  • Chinese (Traditional) — 中文繁體
  • Dutch — Nederlands
  • Filipino — Filipino
  • French — Français
  • German — Deutsch
  • Hungarian — Magyar
  • Irish — Gaeilge
  • Italian — Italiano
  • Latvian — Latviešu
  • Lithuanian — Lietuvių kalba
  • Polish — Polski
  • Portuguese — Português
  • Romanian — Română
  • Russian — Русский
  • Slovak — Slovenčina
  • Spanish — Español
  • Ukrainian — Українська
  • Community service for benefit fraud at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court

    Topics:
    • Benefit fraud

    Date published: 26 August 2026

    A man has been convicted at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court for fraudulently claiming over £18,900 in benefits he was not entitled to.

    Ronald Acton (51), of Limetree Close, Antrim, claimed Personal Independence Payment totalling £18,984.13 whilst failing to declare work activities which affected his entitlement to benefit. He was sentenced to 100 hours of community service. The fraud was uncovered following an investigation by the Department for Communities.   

    Mr Acton is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongly obtained to the Department.  

    Suspected benefit fraud can be reported to the Department for Communities anonymously.  Find out more at: NI Direct

    Notes to editors:

    1. For media enquiries please contact the Press Office 
    2. Follow the Department on X , Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
    3. The Executive Information Service operates an out-of-hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday, and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

    Latest news

    • Lyons announces opening date for Home Heating Oil Support Scheme

      26 August 2026

    • Community service for benefit fraud at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court

      26 August 2026

    • Lyons: £5m investment enhances historic heart of Londonderry

      25 August 2026

    • Lyons: Former Danske Bank Building secured for regeneration

      24 August 2026

    More news …
    Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

    Department footer links

    • Crown copyright
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy
    • Cookies
    • Accessibility
    • The Northern Ireland Executive
    • The Executive Office
    • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
    • Department for Communities
    • Department for Education
    • Department for the Economy
    • Department of Finance
    • Department for Infrastructure
    • Department for Health
    • Department of Justice
    • nidirect.gov.uk — the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens