Walsall mother illegally pocketed £36k in benefits
A mother fraudulently claimed more than £36,000 in benefits posing as a lone parent despite living with her partner, a court heard.
Sharon Payne pocketed income support along with housing and council tax benefits over a number of years.
The 44 year-old admitted two counts of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting entitlement to benefit between 2009 and 2012. Walsall Magistrates Court was told claims for benefits started in 1990, with Payne receiving housing and council tax support.
Payments were made directly into her bank account and an investigation into the benefits was launched last year.
Miss Rachel Smith, prosecuting, said Payne married husband Daniel in 2011 but it appeared the couple had been living together in Poplar Road, Brownhills, for some considerable time.
Loans and registrations with the NHS in both names were sent to the address.
When interviewed by the Department for Work and Pensions Payne denied they had always been living together.
She insisted her husband stayed every 'now and again' and denied knowing if he was working, which would have impacted on the claim.
Payne, who has two children, said he regularly went to London and the address was just for correspondence. In total she dishonestly received £36,767.44 and Miss Smith said no payment had been made to pay the figure back so far.
Payne accepted failing to promptly notify a change of circumstances which would affect her entitlement, in that she was living with Mr Payne. Magistrates decided to commit the case to Wolverhampton Crown Court for sentence on June 25.
Payne was granted unconditional bail.
