A Bishopsworth woman who admitted dishonestly receiving benefits has received a suspended jail term.
Teresa Stillman received payments she was not entitled to over the course of two years.
The 42-year-old, of Collinson Road, admitted failing to notify a change of circumstances by not declaring she was living with her husband.
Bristol Crown Court heard she illegitimately received £17,500 Employment Support Allowance and £6,000 Housing Benefit between July 2015 and September 2017.
Judge Julian Lambert handed her three months' prison, suspended for a year.
The judge also imposed a six-month curfew in which she must stay at home from 9pm to 6am.
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He told her: "You took away money from those who are even more deserving.
"You persistently let it go on. It was a significant amount of money."
The judge set down a hearing on September 15, under the Proceeds of Crime Act, to claw back Stillman's ill-gotten gains.
Emily Pitts, prosecuting via video link, said Stillman received benefits on the basis she was single.
Though the claim was not fraudulent from the outset she then failed to declare her husband was living with her.
James Tucker, defending, said: "She is extremely unlikely to reoffend. The money is being paid back."
Mr Tucker told the court his client had had to contend with bereavement as well as serious health issues.
He said: "She was put through a very hard time. She pleaded guilty to a criminal offence. It is a question of a balance and what the seriousness of the offence requires."
