A trusted employee at the Department for Work and Pensions siphoned off Pension Credit payments to pay off his wedding debts.
Paul Owens had worked as an administrative officer in the department for 30 years before he started diverting the cash in April this year.
In total, the 48-year-old put £5,000-worth of money, which was destined for pensioners, into his elderly father's bank account over a two-month period, a court heard.
However, his deceit was finally uncovered in June and he was charged with six counts of fraud by abuse of position.
Owens, of Willoughby Road, North Shields, appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to all the offences.
Lorna Rimell, prosecuting, said Owens diverted the money on six separate occasions before being caught.
"The defendant diverted money, Pension Credit payments, from various claimants into his father's account," Miss Rimell told magistrates.
"The amount in total is £5,091.15.
"The claimants of the Pension Credit are not at a loss because payments were subsequently made to them. It's the DWP, or the taxpayer, that are at a loss."
The court heard that, after Owens's actions were discovered, he was remorseful and admitted his behaviour in interview.
Stuart Athey, defending, said Owens's father knew nothing of the fraud.
The solicitor told the court that Owens, who has since lost his job with the DWP, had become desperate after marrying his second wife and bitterly regretted his actions.
"His then-partner's family had agreed to pay for their wedding, which was not overly cheap," Mr Athey said. "However, after the event, they said they wanted the money back and started making threats.
"He was already pushed financially to the limits."
Magistrates gave Owens a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to do 100 hours of unpaid work.
