Disabled Newport woman admits £72,500 benefits fraud

Sarah Jane Thomas, 49, of Daniel Place, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court having previously pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of a change of circumstances.

The court heard that between April 30, 2004 and September 3, 2010, Thomas was overpaid by £45,974.53 in income support and that between July 20, 2003 and April 1, 2011, she dishonestly claimed £26,607.35 in severe disability living allowance.

Thomas was therefore overpaid by a total of £72,581.88.

Yesterday, she was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and made the subject of a two-year supervision requirement.

Prosecuting, Carl Harrison said Thomas, who has been in a wheelchair since birth having suffered from spinal neuroblastoma, had been in receipt of severe disability living allowance since December 1988 and income support since June 1991.

She completed application forms at the time saying she would notify the DWP of any change of circumstance.

But when she started work as a cook at a Newport residential home in July 2003, thereby losing her entitlement to severe disability living allowance, she failed to notify the DWP.

At first, Thomas was working part-time and therefore still entitled to income support.

But her hours increased in April 2004, meaning she lost her entitlement – but again she did not notify the DWP.

When Thomas, who is still working at the home, was interviewed, she said she knew it was wrong but had debts to repay.

Representing Thomas, AndrewJones said the mother of three had “genuine remorse and regret” and had not spent the money on a lavish lifestyle.

Recorder Wyn Rees said Thomas had suffered some “dreadful abuse” in her life, in particular a former relationship where she had been required to provide money to her then partner who was a drug user.

He said she had committed the offences she was up in court for in order to “survive”.