A woman has been found guilty of falsely claiming for benefits from the state, amounting to a staggering £59,000.
Rachel Howarth, claimed she was living as a single mum and pocketed the cash from the Department of Work and Pensions, even though her partner and father of her child was living at the same address.
The 31-year-old rinsed the DWP over a period of three years, accumulating nearly £60,000 in payments.
After an investigation by the fraud squad of the DWP Howarth was charged and this week faced punishment after pleading guilty to the crime.
The judge this week handed 12 month community order for making a dishonest representation to obtain benefit.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Howarth, of Droylsden, stated that from June 3 2015 she was living alone with her daughter.
Prosecutor Mark Kellet told Manchester Crown Court: “The defendant claimed Universal Credit, the live service, for herself and her child and said no one lived at the house other than her and her child.
“On June 10 2015, details were collected and she confirmed there had not been a change in circumstances to the DWP.
“On July 31 2018, she was telephoned about her benefits and declined there was any change in circumstances.”
She said that she was “aware a failure to do so may result in action being taken against me.”
Howarth then made a call for a ‘full service’.
In the call she stated she did not live with anyone at the property and worked for nine hours per week.
She said the information was correct and there was no change in circumstances.
However, investigations established that during that period, Adam Carter, her daughter’s father, was also living at the same address.
“In June 2016 he took out a loan and gave that address in Droylsden,” Mr Kellet said.
“Between June 2016 and April 9 2019, he had a credit card with Capital One, and gave the same address.
“On January 4 2017, he had a bank account with Halifax, and gave the same address and further employment records from September 2015 showed he was residing at the address on Sunnyside Road.”
Between June 3 2015 and December 2 2018, Howarth claimed £48,280.53, and between December 3 2018 to November 17 2019 she claimed £10,720.40.
The total amount claimed was £59,000.93.
Howarth was interviewed by a fraud investigation for the DWP, and told them she had been in an on-off relationship with Mr Carter, and said whilst they didn’t live together, he did stay over on some occasions when seeing his daughter.
She said he paid rent, admitted knowing that his bank account and loans were linked to the address and said he gave her money regularly.
It was said Howarth has since been repaying the outstanding sums at £150 a month.
She was said to have no previous convictions and was of previous good character.
Mitigating, Andrea Locke said her client had worked as a child minder and declared to the DWP that she had worked before.
“This was a spectacular fall from grace for her,” she said.
“She has secured a degree in education which she undertook in night school and has remained in secure employment for a number of years, and the relationship has stabilised.
“She is extremely remorseful, she has had this matter hanging over her head for a significant period of time and she is extremely anxious to be in court.”
Sentencing her, Judge Hilary Manley said: “During the course of three-and-a-half years, your on-off partner was living with you, albeit on an irregular basis, and providing modest financial contributions to the household.
“You received just short of £60,000 in benefits in which you were not entitled.
“However, there is no evidence you were living in luxury or accrued expensive possessions.
“It is clear you are a hard working, devoted parent to your child.”
Howarth, of Sunnyside Avenue, was handed a 12 month community order and four days of rehabilitation activity requirements.
