A WOMAN who sublet rooms in her house whilst claiming benefits has pleaded guilty to fraud at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court.
Ms Beata Dymiter, 42, formerly of Markland House, Darfield Way, and was sentenced this month to six weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £500 costs.
Ms Dymiter claimed housing and council tax benefit from Kensington and Chelsea Council but withheld details of her true income, including rental income from tenants living in her flat.
Between March 2011 and December 2012 Ms Dymiter was overpaid housing and council tax benefits totalling £12,565.11.
Following a tip-off, Council investigators began making enquiries and established that Ms Dymiter rented out three rooms in her property for £100, £110 and £120 per week. This income was never declared to the Council when she applied for benefit.
Councillor Warwick Lightfoot, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: "This is an example of the type of abuse we are determined to take action on. Ms Dymiter knew she was abusing the system and hiding her income in order to take more than £12,000 off the taxpayer. We cannot and will not stand by while people take money that is intended for people in genuine need."
In mitigation the court heard that Ms Dymiter was of previous good character and that she was a single mother who had difficulty supporting her child financially and emotionally.
The Council and Ms Dymiter have reached an agreement for her to repay the overpayment in instalments.
