A WYTHALL woman has been fined after she pleaded guilty to committing fraud while claiming Council Tax benefits.

On November 24, Redditch Magistrates' Court heard that Maria Parmar, of Silver Street, had been dishonest to Bromsgrove District Council by failing to disclose that her husband had started work three years before.

Parmar informed the council in May this year that her employment had ceased the previous December, adding that her husband had started work the month before.

She was then asked to provide evidence of his earnings and her P45.

The defendant went on to say that, in the intervening period, the couple had not claimed JSA, but had been living on cash received from her daughter.

She said the money had been paid into their bank account and was used to cover bills and living expenses.

But the next day, Parmar contacted Bromsgrove District Council again to confess she had given false information the day before, and that her husband had actually been employed since 2013 on a full-time basis.

An investigation later found his salary had been between £24,000 and £27,000.

A reassessment of Parmar's entitlement to Council Tax benefits discovered that, between April 22, 2013 and May 23, 2016, there had been an overpayment of £4,370.67.

Parmar was interviewed in July and confirmed that, at the time the application was made, she had been working part-time as a nanny, earning around £90 per week.

She confirmed that she understood how the benefit was assessed and that, if the family income increased, it would likely result in their benefit being reduced.

She accepted that she should have notified the council immediately when her husband started work.

Parmar pleaded guilty to fraud and was fined £80, on top of a victim surcharge of £30 and a £250 contribution to costs.

She will also be repaying the overpayment at £200 per month.

A spokesman for Bromsgrove District Council said: "It is the claimant’s duty to let us know as soon as their circumstances change so the appropriate changes to their benefits can be made.

“Failure to do so is fraud and will result in court action."