DWP gives warning to millions of Brits as woman jailed for £110,000 fraud

The number of people are currently receiving at least one benefit from the government has reached 24 million, with a record-breaking eight million people now on Universal Credit. But the government has now issued a stark warning following a rise in claims that benefit fraud will now be detected and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

The stern warning comes after a Manchesterwoman was sentenced to 20 months in prison. The 51-year-old was found guilty of pocketing £110,000 in benefits she wasn't entitled to after she failed to tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that her living situation had changed.

She pleaded guilty to four counts of benefit fraud at Manchester Magistrates' Courton August 12 having falsely claiming Job Seeker's Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support between 2013 and 2023. It comes as DWP confirms new Winter Fuel Payment deadline with pensioners urged to act now.

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The case came to light after an anonymous tip which prompted a joint investigation by the DWP Pensions Regional Investigations team along with Manchester City Council, the Manchester Evening News reports. Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western, said following the legal case: "Our social security system exists to support the most vulnerable in society and those genuinely in need.

"We will continue to take legal action to fight those trying to scam the system and if anyone thinks they can get away with it this case shows that they will be brought to justice."

"Joint working between the DWP and local authorities will protect taxpayers' money while ensuring genuine claimants receive the money they are entitled to."

Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Finances and Resource for Manchester City Council, added: "We know that in Manchester there are a great number of people who are genuine beneficiaries of the benefit system and put their trust in it to deliver the support they need. For many it has been a lifeline through one of the most difficult economic climates in a generation.

"This case was an example of how the trust inherent in our benefits system was abused for personal gain. I would like to thank our officers for their tireless work to detect this fraud, as well as our colleagues in the DWP for ensuring a successful prosecution."

The case forms part of a broader trend of successful prosecutions safeguarding taxpayers' money in recent months. In June, a couple from Port Talbot were handed suspended prison sentences ranging from six months to two years after claiming £48,517 in Universal Credit payments whilst failing to declare their capital assets.

During the same month, a woman from Swansea was found guilty after making fraudulent childcare claims, uploading fabricated invoices to claim childcare costs she never incurred. She was given a 6-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to carry out unpaid work.

A couple from St Helens received two-year prison sentences each after fraudulently obtaining more than £268,000 through offences including bogus Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims and a Local Authority Direct Payment, using false identities, whilst also claiming Employment Support Allowance as a single person despite living together.

The DWP stated these successful prosecutions arrive as the UK Government strengthens its capacity to combat fraud and detect genuine mistakes more quickly, through the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill.

The Bill will save taxpayers £1.5 billion over the next five years.