A woman from Oldham has been sentenced after admitting she falsified childcare costs to claim additional Universal Credit payments over a period of almost four years.
Case and sentencing
The 40-year-old, who lives on Shrewsbury Street, pleaded guilty at Tameside Magistrates' Court to fraud by false representation and to supplying fabricated documents to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The offences relate to a period between 15 February 2019 and 14 November 2022, when she declared childcare costs that were not genuine and supplied false receipts to support her claims.
On 24 July the court imposed a community order requiring up to 15 days of rehabilitation activity and 180 hours of unpaid work, to be completed by 23 July 2027. Financial penalties and repayments were also imposed: a victim surcharge of £114, court costs of £85, and benefit deductions to recover £199.
Court remarks and recovery
The magistrate decided not to order immediate compensation beyond the deductions, concluding that an additional award would create an unfair burden on the defendant. The court made clear, however, that this decision does not prevent the DWP from pursuing civil recovery through other routes in future.
“[An immediate compensation order] would create an 'undue burden',”
The prosecution in the case was brought by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Local context and implications
Welfare fraud prosecutions such as this are relatively uncommon in day-to-day local headlines but carry a signal effect for residents and claimants in Oldham. The DWP pursues cases where benefit claims are knowingly inflated or supported by false documents. Sentences range from community orders to custodial sentences, depending on the scale and circumstances of the fraud, previous convictions and the evidence supplied.
- Period of offending: 15 February 2019 – 14 November 2022
- Court: Tameside Magistrates' Court
- Penalties: 15 days rehabilitation activity, 180 hours unpaid work, £114 surcharge, £85 costs, £199 repayment via deductions
| Item | Amount / Detail |
|---|---|
| Rehabilitation activity | Up to 15 days |
| Unpaid work | 180 hours |
| Victim surcharge | £114 |
| Costs | £85 |
| Repayment ordered | £199 (via benefit deductions) |
For Oldham residents, the case serves as a reminder that the DWP investigates suspicious claims and that legal consequences can include community sentences and financial penalties. The magistrates' approach in this instance balanced punishment and rehabilitation while leaving open the possibility of civil recovery to recoup funds.
