A WOMAN from Witley has been handed a community order after she claimed over £35,000 in benefits she wasn’t entitled to – despite receiving capital in the region of £100,000.

Sacha Lye, of Orchard Close, appeared at Redhill Magistrates’ Court last month, and pleaded guilty to failing to notify Waverley Borough Council of a change in her circumstances knowing it would affect her housing benefit, council tax benefit and council tax support.

Waverley was informed by the Department of Work and Pensions fraud team that Mrs Lye was in possession of the money, which she hadn’t declared to the council. Its investigators then interviewed Mrs Lye and she admitted the offence.

As a result of her failure to promptly notify the council she was overpaid £35,230.25 in housing benefit, £2,217.10 in council tax benefit and £1,816.42 in council tax support, bringing the total loss of public funds to £39,263.77. She has since paid back the entire amount to Waverley.

Mrs Lye was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work, told to pay costs of £614 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60.

Councillor Wyatt Ramsdale said: “I am pleased every penny Mrs Lye unrightfully claimed has now been paid back.

“Now it will go to the people who genuinely need it. It is important we make sure the money is only going to those who are entitled to it.

“Therefore I would urge everyone to report any suspected housing benefit fraud and stop the people who are selfishly abusing the system.”

To report suspected cases of fraud call the National Benefit Fraud hotline on 0800 854440 or go online at www.gov.uk/ report-benefit-fraud