Centrelink mum-of-four who cheated taxpayers out of $40,000 by fraudulently claiming she was unemployed is jailed
- The woman received more than 50 full welfare payments she wasn't entitled to
- She told was working at a children's hospital and catering company while claiming to be unemployed
- The dole cheat was under severe stress because of an abusive relationship
A mother-of-four who swindled taxpayers out of $40,000 by falsely claiming she was unemployed has been jailed.
The dole cheat admitted to Perth Magistrate's Court on Monday she repeatedly claimed unemployment benefits while earning an income.
She received 55 full welfare payments she wasn't entitled to - as well as 19 others she was only partially entitled to, Perth Now reported.
The woman told Centrelink she was unemployed, despite working at a children's hospital and later at a catering company.
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A Centrelink scammer who swindled taxpayers out of $40,000 by falsely claiming she was unemployed has been jailed (stock image)
She fraudulently claimed $39,730 in benefits, the court heard on Monday.
She immediately admitted to making false claims during an interview with Centrelink when the agency discovered the over-payments in 2014.
Chief Magistrate Steven Heath told the woman welfare scammers 'deplete the pool' of taxpayer money for people who genuinely need help.
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The woman's lawyer told the court she knew what she was doing was wrong but was under severe stress because of an abusive relationship.
Mr Heath said a prison sentence was appropriate and jailed her for 10 months, with a non parole period of five months.
She is paying back the debt at $90 a fortnight.
