A mum and carer who admitted dishonestly claiming £5,879 in benefits has been ordered to do unpaid work.
Safina Khalid of Woodsome Estate in Batley was sentenced to a 12 month community order with 100 hours of work after pleading guilty to three charges.
They were of failing to notify a change of circumstances when she travelled to Pakistan with her daughter, which affected entitlement to her income support, carers’ allowance and her severely disabled 16-year-old daughter’s disability living allowance.
Her case was heard earlier this week at Kirklees Magistrates Court but was stood down to allow for a pre-sentence report.
In it, Khalid alleged that she had only intended to stay in Pakistan for a short time but her uncle died and her daughter fell ill, leading to seven months in hospital.
Mitigating, Andy Day said that she attempted unsuccessfully to call the Department of Work and Pensions to notify them from Pakistan.
Paulette Huntington, lead magistrate, also ordered Khalid to pay a £60 surcharge and £85 in cost. She told her that she will have to seek permission from her probation supervisor if she wants to leave the country.
