Sarah Hanlon, 41, told authorities the extra £825 per month she received in Universal Credit was for her children, who had been taken from her care.
Sarah Hanlon, 41, pocketed an extra £825 per month in Universal Credit. (Image: Cavendish Press)
A benefits fraudster who pocketed over £16,500 has 22 years to repay it. Sarah Hanlon, 41, told authorities the extra £825 per month she received in Universal Credit was spent on her children, who she said were living with her, but had in fact been taken from her care.
She kept up the ruse for almost two years until she was summoned to a meeting with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The mum of three subsequently admitted the fraud.
Hanlon pleaded guilty at Crewe Magistrates’ Court to dishonestly failing to disclose information and fraud by false representation.
Prosecutor, Marta Pawloska, told the court Hanlon failed to let the DWP know about the change in her circumstances when her children were “removed from her care and not returned”.
Ms Pawloska said: “Universal Credit was partly being paid to the landlord and the remainder paid to her personal account.
“But evidence is available to show a failure to report a change of circumstances, namely in August of 2022, when all of the children were removed from her care and not returned.
“On May 8, 2024, this defendant removed the children from her claim, but it was only done after an invitation for an interview made by the benefits department.”
Hanlon was sentenced to 36 weeks, suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay the money back to the Government.
A total of £61 will be deducted from her wages by the DWP, meaning it will take approximately 22 years to repay the full amount of £16,558.61.
She will also have to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, 15 hours of rehabilitation and pay £85 in costs.
Universal Credit (UC) is paid monthly to individuals on low incomes who require additional support with living expenses and housing costs.
If the income or circumstances of someone on UC change, then they might receive a different amount.
Claimants can work as many hours as they want to and still claim UC, as the benefit is designed as a way of topping up the earnings of people on low incomes.
