Universal Credit Claim Continued After Inheritance

Wimbledon Magistrates Court

A benefit claimant, who kept her inheritance a secret and continued to receive money, will now have to work for free after being sentenced.

Sarah Young, 39, of Buckingham Avenue, Thornton Heath did not tell the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) about her windfall while claiming Universal Credit.

She appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court charged with failing to notify the DWP of a change in her circumstances between July 4, 2018 and January 4, this year, namely that she had received a capital asset in the form of an inheritance.

Young was placed on a twelve-month Community Order, which includes 144 hours of unpaid community service work.

She must also comply with a probation-ordered recommended activity requirement of up to thirty days.

The court made no compensation order for the benefit payments Young received as that is being recovered by the DWP.

She must also pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge at the rate of £10 per fortnight.