Benefits cheat who claimed nearly £9,500 was working for Uber all along

A Cardiff Uber driver has admitted claiming almost £9,500 in benefits while also working for the ride-sharing app. Cardiff Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday that 51-year-old Mohammed Chowdhury, claimed a total of £9,460 in Jobseekers Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance between June 2016 and May 2017 after failing to inform authorities of his job as an Uber driver. The court heard Chowdhury attended the Department of Work and Pensions where he confirmed to interviewers of his job as an Uber driver and told them that he had faced "financial difficulties" following legal disputes with the tech giants. Chowdhury said that because of the dispute with Uber he was unsure whether he would have to pay back all his earnings, therefore decided to declare them. In November 2016 Chowdhury declared himself too sick to work but following a medical examination it was decided that he was fit enough to seek work. According to a report in the WalesOnline, It was accepted that his claims were not "initially fraudulent". Chowdhury admitted a single count of fraud by dishonestly failing to disclose his change of status and is due for sentencing on September 12 after a probation report is carried out.