A woman who carried on benefiting from her ex-husband's Army pension after an 'acrimonious' divorce falsely claimed more than £28,000 in Income Support.
A woman who falsely claimed more than £28,000 in income support from the Department for Work and Pensions after not disclosing she still benefited from her ex-husband's army pension pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates Court today.
Alison Hiowe, of Kemmel Avenue, Wythenshaw, claimed the money from the Department for Work and Pensions for seven years, from 2011.
She falsely claimed £28,463.04 in total.
She was caught out by the Department for Work and Pensions in March last year.
The DWP ordered her to pay back £400 a month.
Hiowe was then charged with dishonestly failing to disclose information, which she was under legal obligation to disclose, to make a gain. She pleaded guilty before Manchester magistrates.
Prosecuting, Emily Lloyd said: "The defendant started receiving a pension. I believe she got from her ex-husband and didn't disclose this to the Department for Work and Pensions, which would have affected the amount of pension.
"This is medium culpability as I would not suggest that the claim was fraudulent from the outset."
Defence solicitor Nick Ross said: "She was interviewed in relation to this offence and made an admission in March last year.
"She has agreed to her benefits being deducted to the tune of £400 a month, therefore there has already been a repayment of £4,000.
"She has been very uncertain as to whether matters could come to court and she got a shock when she received the summons."
The court heard how Hiowe's marriage broke down in 2005 and that the divorce was 'acrimonious'.
The terms of the divorce were unclear and had to be settled in a family court.
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Mr Ross added: "Her husband had been serving in the Army and as a result of his employment he was entitled to a military pension.
"She very much accepts that she was not as honest as she should have been."
In mitigation, Mr Ross said that Hiowe had already endured a year of uncertainty as it wasn't made clear whether she would be brought to court to face the charges, or simply left to pay off the sum.
He added: "This is a lady who has no problems or issues at all with drinking or drug taking."
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Magistrate David Chadwick said: "We have been very pleased - it has helped the defence knowing that you have started contributions to the repayments.
"We have decided for you to be electronically curfewed. It should have been nine months, however because of your early guilty plea it will be a six month community order."
Hiowe will have to remain in her home from 7pm until 7am every day for six months.
However the court gave her permission to have a week off curfew to go on holiday to Spain with her family in June.
She has also been ordered to pay £20 a month to repay court fees as well as continuing to make £400 monthly repayments to the Department of Work and Pensions.
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