Supervision order for Burnley benefits fraud carer (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Supervision order for Burnley benefits fraud carer

10:26am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in Burnley By Emma Broom, Deputy news editor

A WOMAN who received £7,700 in benefits she was not entitled to as she looked after her mother-in-law was given six months’ supervision.

Burnley magistrates heard how Michelle Taylor, 23, was claiming carer's allowance, but was also working as a carer and was earning more than the permitted amount.

She said she had been caring for her mother-in-law for a couple of years before she claimed carer’s allowance.

The hearing was told Taylor now has a seven-week-old son who is sick in hospital.

Her husband had left her and she was said to be in a stressful situation, but she had no mental health or substance misuse issues.

The defendant, of Gorple Street, Burnley, admitted failing to notify a change of circum-stances affecting her entitl-ement to social security benefit, between June, 2009, and May, 2012.

Carl Gaffney, prosecuting for the Department for Work and Pensions, said Taylor was working more than the permitted hours.

Her claim had been genuine at the start and she had been entitled to claim carer’s allowance, but from June 1, 2009, she was not.

The defendant was paying back the money overpaid at £100 a month.

She had made “significant admissions” when interviewed under caution.

Taylor had no previous cautions.

Mark Williams, for the defendant, said she was worried about her child and would not be in a position to comply with a curfew.

He said: “She is trying to pay the money back and has been doing so.

“She has paid at least £900 back. Her income has been getting less each month and she is starting to struggle financially.”