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Table 3: Benefit Fraud

	Culpability
Harm	A	B	C
Category 1 £500,000 or more Starting point based on £1 million	Starting point 7 years’ custody	Starting point 5 years’ custody	Starting point 3 years’ custody
	Category range 5 – 8 years’ custody	Category range 3 – 6 years’ custody	Category range 18 months’ – 4 years’ custody
Category 2 £100,000 – £500,000 Starting point based on £300,000	Starting point 5 years’ custody	Starting point 3 years’ custody	Starting point 15 months’ custody
	Category range 3 – 6 years’ custody	Category range 18 months’ – 4 years’ custody	Category range 26 weeks’ – 3 years’ custody
Category 3 £50,000–£100,000 Starting point based on £75,000	Starting point 3 years’ custody	Starting point 15 months’ custody	Starting point 36 weeks’ custody
	Category range 2 years 6 months’ – 4 years’ custody	Category range 36 weeks’ – 3 years’ custody	Category range 26 weeks’ – 1 year’s custody
Category 4 £10,000 – £50,000 Starting point based on £30,000	Starting point 21 months’ custody	Starting point 1 year’s custody	Starting point High level community order
	Category range 1 year’s – 3 years’ custody	Category range High level community order – 2 years’ custody	Category range Low level community order – 26 weeks’ custody
Category 5 £2,500 – £10,000 Starting point based on £5,000	Starting point 1 year’s custody	Starting point High level community order	Starting point Medium level community order
	Category range High level community order – 2 years’ custody	Category range Low level community order – 26 weeks’ custody	Category range Band C fine – High level community order
Category 6 Less than £2,500 Starting point based on £1,000	Starting point High level community order	Starting point Low level community order	Starting point Band B fine
	Category range Low level community order – 26 weeks’ custody	Category range Band B fine – Medium level community order	Category range Discharge – Band C fine

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