NHS pension secret in Burnley mum’s benefits fraud (From Lancashire Telegraph)

NHS pension secret in Burnley mum’s benefits fraud

11:26am Wednesday 15th August 2012 in News

A FORMER health worker failed to declare her NHS pension as part of a £16,000 benefits fraud, magistrates heard.

Ann Frances Elder, 49, signed benefit forms in 2002, claiming she had no other forms of income, the Burnley court was told.

Prosecutor Alex Mann said that this led to Elder receiving council tax benefit and housing benefit for nearly 10 years, an overpayment of £5,500. 

And when she split from her husband in 2009, she wrongly received income support of £10,416, until checks were made by the Department of Work and Pensions in January this year.

She had an NHS occupational pension which affected her entitlements and remained undeclared, the court heard.

Elder, of Burrell Avenue, Colne, who admitted two offences of failing to notify a change in circumstances for benefits.

She was given a community order with six months probation supervision.
Keith Rennison, defending, said that when the offences were uncovered it was a ‘weight off her mind’.

Her husband, who had a controlling influence on her life, originally filled out the benefit forms and she accepted she signed without checking them properly.

She now suffered from osteo-arthritis and has battled depression, he told the court, and volunteered for the Samartians on a regular basis.
Mr Rennison said the income support money had supported her daughter’s university studies.

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