Last updated 14:42, Friday, 07 November 2008

FINED: Benefit cheat Barbara Lisienkov

A FORMER benefits office employee continued to claim benefits despite having £50,000 in savings.

Barbara Lisienkov began receiving income support and housing benefit in 1995 but when she received a gift of £50,000 from a wealthy friend in 2006 she failed to inform the DWP and falsely claimed more than £9,000 she was not entitled to.

Mr Trystan Roberts, defending, explained 58-year-old Lisienkov was required to inform the department of any changes in circumstances, including any savings or assets.

Lisienkov, of Fell Close, Ulverston, spread her savings across three bank accounts and an ISA but she was interviewed by investigators after they discovered she had been overpaid.

Mr Roberts said: “She was interviewed in January and March of this year, and she admitted that she had savings and had failed to notify the department.

“She has paid that money back from the significant assets that she had.”

Defending Lisienkov, Mr Gareth James explained that she had legitimately been claiming benefits for some time before the money was given to her.

He said: “In the early 2000s, she formed a friendship with a lady who was not in the best of health and in 2006 made a gift of a substantial sum of money from her assets.”

Mr James added that as soon as Lisienkov was made aware of her error she immediately paid back the £9,383.38 she had received.

Lisienkov, who currently receives disability living allowance of £260 per month, pleaded guilty to failing to inform the DWP of a change in circumstances.

Presiding magistrate, Mrs Gill Howson warned Lisienkov she could have been sent to prison.

Mrs Howson said: “You were aware of the need to declare the money and you chose not to do so.

“This offence is still liable to a custodial sentence.”

Lisienkov pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to inform the DWP of a change in circumstances.

She was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £75 and a £15 victim surcharge.