A woman who neglected to inform the government her partner was living with her has admitted two charges of benefit fraud.
Laura Middleton, 42, of Douglas, will be sentenced after following a probation report.
The court heard that she was claiming employed person’s allowance as a single person, but the government received information in December 2023 that her partner was living at her address.
A surveillance operation proved the man was staying there and bank transfers showed him paying her money.
Defence advocate Peter Taylor said his client had made “errors of judgement” but was genuinely remorseful and said she was offering to pay the money back at a rate of £10 per week from benefits.
However, Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood said that paying both the benefit money back and any fine at the rate of £10 a week was “just not enough”.
She added: “We can’t have a situation where I’m imposing fines she simply can’t pay.”
Ms Braidwood therefore has asked for a report to be completed to find a form of community service that she can complete.
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