A woman has admitted falsely claiming nearly £7,000 in benefits after her circumstances changed.
Laura-Jane Mead, of Bixby Avenue, Haughley, pleaded guilty at the magistrates court in Ipswich to dishonestly failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions of a change of circumstances in relation to carer’s allowance between July 14, 2014, and August 20, 2015.
The 32-year-old also admitted a similar charge relating failing to tell the DWP her circumstances for claiming disability living allowance had changed between July 9, 2014, and March 7, 2015.
Prosecutor David Bryant said the total overpayments came to £6,722.
The court heard Mead was currently paying back the money owed.
The benefits had originally been correctly claimed.
Michael Stephenson, representing Mead, said: “She never set out to commit a fraud.”
Mead was given a 12-month conditional discharge.
She was also ordered to pay £85 towards prosecution costs and a further £20 to the victims’ fund.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here