A mum has been caught scamming nearly £28,000 in disability payments after she was spotted walking unaided.
Cheryl Topham, 54, from Ashton-under-Lyne in Manchester, was unable to walk after suffering from a number of health conditions including carpal tunnel syndrome, and had been receiving Disability Living Allowance since 1992.
She had also received Employment Support Allowance in 2015.
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But the mum then underwent a knee replacement operation in 2017 and was able to walk again, the MEN reports.
And she failed to inform authorities about her change in condition and continued receiving Disability Living Allowance.
Topham was overpaid a total of £28,263.70 into her bank account.
Investigators received a tip-off about Topham's improved health, and she was even caught walking without an aid on CCTV, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
She was later seen walking with crutches at her appointment to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP),
In a further appointment to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP), she turned up to the centre using crutches.
Topham, of Windemere Crescent, pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting entitlement to benefits, and dishonestly making a false statement to obtain benefits.
She was sentenced to six months imprisonment which was suspended for 12 months, ten days of rehabilitation activity requirements, and a nine month alcohol treatment programme.
Topham’s initial application for disability allowance stated she suffered from a number of ailments including carpal tunnel syndrome, and said these conditions affected her ability to walk and look after herself, prosecutor John Richards said.
“As a result her application was approved in November 1999 and this was moved to Employment Support Allowance in March 2015,” he said.
“She was told to inform DWP if anything changed. The investigator for DWP then became aware of allegations about the defendant and after that was authorised for surveillance between September 5 and September 9 2019.
“Footage was obtained through mobile phone footage, showing the defendant walking unaided. Then during a further appointment in which she attempted to claim PIP, she was seen using crutches.”
Topham was arrested and interviewed under caution, and after being shown the footage she admitted that she had an operation in August 2017 which saw that her conditions would no longer qualify her for the payments.
In total she obtained £17,558.60 in disability allowance payments and £10,675 in ESA payments.
She was said to have no previous convictions.
Saul Brody, mitigating, said she has found the court process ‘excruciating’ and is ‘very much ashamed’ of her failure to notify the change in circumstances.
“This is a case where there was a genuine claim for at least 18 years,” he said.
“The defendant first received benefits relating to her disability in 1992, in 2008 the DWP accepted her condition was so serious that she didn’t need to continue making applications. She was entitled to the benefits, but matters went awry in 2017.”
Mr Brody said that Topham had a knee placement surgery in 2017 and acknowledged that her condition had improved and she did not make that clear to DWP.
A payment plan is now set up so the mum can repay the money owed in sums. He added that she is currently in poor health and financial difficulty but a payment plan is set up with repaying back the sums.
“The system has to rely on trust mainly given to those who are not able to look after themselves. People are trusted they will make and clearly declare and do the right thing - you did not,” Recorder Jon Close said.
