A woman carried on claiming benefits – after extending a trip to the Caribbean, a court heard.
Carol Spence, 52, of Brackenhall, claimed a further £2,800 after failing to tell officials she was staying on in Jamaica.
She admitted failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions of a change in her circumstances.
Andy Wills, prosecuting, told Kirklees magistrates that Spence started claiming incapacity benefit in May 2007.
He said: “It was one of the conditions of her claims that if there was any change in her circumstances, the DWP must be notified immediately. This is because it can have an effect on the amount of benefit she should be paid.”
The prosecutor said that Spence – who has a dual British and Jamaican passport – then went abroad in December 2011.
She did not return until May 2012 and failed to contact the DWP to say that she was living abroad.
Mr Wills said: “During this time the benefit continued to be paid on the basis that she was eligible to benefit and still in the UK. If the DWP had been aware of her going from the UK it would have been withdrawn.”
Magistrates heard that officers attended at Spence’s last known address in Brackenhall Road. A tenant said she was aware that Spence had gone abroad but had no further information on her.
When Spence returned to the UK she claimed that she had intended to take a short trip but suffered from illness while there and had to extend it.
Spence said a relative had transferred her benefit money to her when she needed it.
Hajra Khan, mitigating, said her client accepted she should have notified the DWP before she left the country.
She said: “It wasn’t her intention to stay for long but she fell ill and was unable to travel back.
“She accepts she was in the wrong taking these benefits during this time.
“It’s not suggested that the benefit was obtained fraudulently, she just failed to notify her change in circumstances.”
Magistrates gave Spence, who is repaying the money, a four-week curfew between 7pm and 7am.
She was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge.