A Dundee woman who fraudulently claimed almost £80,000 in benefits was caught after an anonymous tip-off, a court was told.
Jacqueline Low admitted receiving the income support and housing benefit over an eight-year period without informing the authorities she was living with her husband at the time.
The 53-year-old Pitkerro Road resident appeared before Sheriff Elizabeth Munro at Dundee Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
Depute fiscal Trina Sinclair said: “The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) received anonymous information that the accused was living together as a couple with her husband George Low.”
Ms Sinclair said a check had revealed Mr Low lived at the same address as the accused, who was recorded as his next of kin.
According to his employers’ records he was married and no change of address had ever been reported.
Ms Sinclair said: “DWP employees visited neighbours of the accused and left cards asking them to contact Dundee City Council. One neighbour confirmed that the accused and George Low had lived there for between 10 and 15 years.”
During an interview under caution, Low agreed she had received payments of income support and understood she received housing benefit and received a reduced bill for her council tax.
Ms Sinclair said: “She advised she knew the changes she must report to either department and if a partner moved in to live with her it would have an effect on her benefits.”
Low previously admitted claiming £52,758.16 of income support between March 15 2004 and February 23 2012 at her home address and elsewhere, by not notifying authorities that she was living with George Low.
She also admitted that, between March 5 2004 and March 25 2012, at the same location, she fraudulently claimed £26,594.79 of housing benefit by again failing to declare she was living with George Low.
Sheriff Munro further deferred sentence on Low until September 24 and her bail was continued.