Overview

• The 51-year-old woman admitted dishonestly claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support between April 2013 and April 2023, wrongly obtaining £110,000.
• An anonymous tip prompted a collaborative inquiry by the DWP Pensions Regional Investigations team and Manchester City Council that led to the fraud’s discovery.
• Minister for Transformation Andrew Western said the case demonstrates the government’s determination to pursue legal action against benefit cheats to protect genuine claimants.
• The sentencing follows recent high-value convictions in Port Talbot, Swansea and St Helens as part of a sustained DWP-led crackdown on welfare fraud.
• The upcoming Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill is designed to boost recovery powers and is projected to recoup £1.5 billion over five years.