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Wagner to be investigated over claiming incapacity benefit while appearing on the X Factor

By Jody Thompson



Under investigation: Wagner Fiuza-Carrilho singing The Beatle's Get Back and Hey Jude on last week's live X Factor show


He's known for his energetic, if off-key performances on X Factor - and now Wagner Fiuza-Carrilho is to be investigated by welfare officials over his claiming of incapacity benefit while on the show.

They want to know why the oddball Brazilian, 54, is claiming cash for a frozen shoulder while appearing to be fit and active when performing for Simon Cowell et al and even going to the gym while off screen.

He has been ordered in a written summons to attend an urgent reassessment session at his local JobCentre, according to The Sun.


Wagner faces having his £91.40 per week payment cancelled and could even be taken to court if officials decide he's been claiming the benefit when he no longer has grounds to.

Payments started in July 2009 after the former karate teacher injured his shoulder and he is thought to have trousered nearly £5,000 so far.

An X Factor spokesperson told Mail Online: 'We told him to talk to the benefits office.

'In terms of the show, clearly he was deemed physically fit to do the show because they all see the doctor.

'We wouldn't put him on the show if we didn't think he was fit enough.'


Cold shoulder: Wagner, seen here performing the Elvis classic Viva Las Vegas, has not endeared himself to his fellow X Factor finalists who fear he might win the show


A spokesperson for the Department Of Work And Pensions (DWP) said they 'can't comment on individual cases', but told the MailOnline: 'People's conditions change all the time. When new information comes to light, we reassess their fitness for work.'

Since injuring his shoulder last year, Wagner has undergone two major operations to correct it - the last one being in January this year.

The father-of-one was wearing a sling to the auditions for the show in Birmingham in June, but removed it for his performance.

Over the past six weeks of live shows, Wagner has been putting on show-stopping performances with a large troupe of dancers.

Last year, former Britain's Got Talent contestant Fred Bowers, 74, was ordered to pay back £3,000 he had received in disability allowance.


Incapacitated?: The Brazilian has been seen going to the gym as well as gracing the red carpet as he enjoys his 15 minutes of fame


Wagner is rumoured to be singing a mash-up of Radiohead's Creep and Robert Palmer's Addicted To Love in tonight's show.

It's apparently Rock Week on the live final. Matt Cardle is thought to be singing Guns N'Roses epic Welcome To The Jungle, Mary Byrne is to attempt U2's All I Want Is You and Cher Lloyd to try Aerosmith and Run DMC's Walk This Way.

Tomorrow's results show is also set to see the long-anticipated double eviction.

According to bookmakers Paddy Power, Katie Waissel and Cher Lloyd are the favourites to go, with respective odds of 11/8 and 5/2.

Wagner is third favourite for the boot at 7/2 followed by Mary at 4/1.

Matt Cardle remains the 7/4 favourite to win the show however.

A poll carried out by The Sun meanwhile has revealed that 63 per cent of X Factor viewers want Wagner off the show, with just five per cent believing he will win and a lowly one per cent thinking he has any chance of a success music career.

The results published today show that the Brazilian is being kept on the show by an internet campaign intent on keeping him in to ruin Simon Cowell's credibility.

Last year, a similar action online saw Rage Against The Machine's 1992 single Killing In The Name beat Joe McElderry's The Climb from becoming the Christmas Number One.



Source:Dailymail