Kidderminster woman falsely claimed £7,000 in benefits (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Kidderminster woman falsely claimed £7,000 in benefits

1:24pm Tuesday 26th February 2013 in News

A KIDDERMINSTER woman has admitted committing benefit fraud after falsely claiming thousands of pounds.

Magistrates heard 25-year-old Mariaelaina Wilson,of Upton Road, had falsely claimed more than £7,000 in benefits.

Wilson pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to declare a change in her circumstances.

The court heard she had not told the authorities her partner had moved in with her and that he had been living with her since February 2011.

The Crown Prosecution Service was prosecuting on behalf of Wyre Forest District Council and the Department for Work & Pensions.

The court was told that between February 2, 2011 and December 5, 2011, Wilson received £2,678 in Income Support, £3,761.20 in Housing Benefit and £626 in Council Tax Benefit to which she was not entitled.

Following pre-sentence reports the Magistrates sentenced Wilson to a two year Conditional Discharge.

In all cases the overpayments of benefit will also have to be repaid in full to Wyre forest District Council and the Department for Work & Pensions.