A LONG EATON woman has been prosecuted after falsely claiming more than £5,500 in benefits.
Helen Rowlson, of Hoselett Field Road, failed to tell the council of a change in her circumstances that reduced the amount she should have been receiving.
She was given a six month supervision order, was told to pay £150 costs and must abide by a ten-week curfew order between 7pm and 7am by Southern Derbyshire Magistrate's Court after pleading guilty.
The case was brought to court by Erewash Borough Council. Rowlson was claiming benefits based on her partner's low, part time earnings.
But she failed to notify the council when her partner moved to a new full time job in July 2011.
The fraud was uncovered when Rowlson applied for an increase in her benefits following a rent increase, which triggered a review.
It revealed an overpayment of £5,503.92 in housing benefit had been made between July 2011 and June 2012.
Councillor Chris Corbett, leader of the council, said: "We are keen that those people who are eligible for Council Tax and Housing Benefit do claim the help to which they are entitled.
"But we are also determined to crack down on fraudulent claims and anyone found to be committing benefit fraud should be warned that we will take action."
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