Susan Rouse failed to declare it to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
She inherited her dad’s £120,000 estate – and still claimed £27,000 from DWP
A woman continued to claim benefits – despite inheriting her father’s £120k estate. Susan Rouse, 63, inherited her dad’s £120,000 estate when he died and then failed to declare it to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
The 63-year-old, from Barry in Wales, continued to claim Universal Credit, to the tune of more than £27,000 in a little under two years.
Ms Rouse appeared before the court having previously pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify the DWP about a change of circumstance affecting her right to the benefit.
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In mitigation Kirsten Murphy, for Rouse, said: “Ms Rouse has no previous convictions and has never been before court. She is utterly ashamed to find herself in this position, and knows she will never be in position again.
“She is truly remorseful and fully accepts she should have informed the DWP when she received inheritance money. She has already paid £9,000 back. I ask you to consider suspending any term of imprisonment.”
Judge Lucy Crowther, sentencing Rouse, told her that she was aware that she needed to report any change of circumstances and that she had signed documents acknowledging she was required to do so.
She said: “In April 2022 your father died leaving you £120,000, the extent of his estate. You knew perfectly well if you told the DWP that your universal credit would come to an end.
“You bought a car and distributed the money around your family before being discovered. More than £27,000 was overpaid.
“This was a legitimate claim from the outset that became fraudulent. You should be utterly ashamed about your callous, selfish action to indulge in your family.”
WalesOnline, BirminghamLive’s sister title over the border, has reported how Rouse was sentenced to a 20-week suspended prison sentence and ordered to carry out a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement.