A BENEFITS cheat has been given six months to pay back money illegally claimed from the nation’s “welfare fund”.
Corinna Blanchard was told that if she can pay back the overpaid sum of £13,766 it may be to her advantage when she returns to Durham Crown Court to be sentenced.
It follows her admission to a charge of making a false statement to obtain benefit.
The court heard Blanchard, 43, of St John’s Place, Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, continued to claim Income Support and Housing Benefit as a single mother after her partner, and now husband, moved in to share household expenditure, in 2013.
Chris Knox, mitigating, said with her husband’s support she hopes to repay the over claimed amount in full.
Judge Christopher Prince adjourned the hearing for six months to give her time to repay the money.
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