$62,000 DOLE FRAUD

Woman jailed for ripping off Centrelink

A TOOWOOMBA mother of two under-declared her income for more than six years to obtain higher Centrelink payments.

Her deception eventually cost her dearly.

A TOOWOOMBA mother of two has been jailed after admitting to ripping off Centrelink of more than $60,000 in single parent payments.

And, it wasn’t the first time Tammy Maree Davidson had under declared her income in sourcing payments from Centrelink, Toowoomba District Court heard.

She had been on an 18month good behaviour bond after being caught ripping almost $6000 from social security when she started fraudulently claiming benefits again, Commonwealth Prosecutor Suki Bloom told the court.

Over a period of six years and six months, the now 38year-old had routinely under declared her actual income in order to gain a higher rate of single parent benefit.

Over the offending period she had received $93,000 in social security benefits when she was only entitled to $30,000, resulting in her being overpaid $62,832, Ms Bloom said.

She had continued her deception despite being warned in 2012 that she was being overpaid, the court hard.

Judge Dennis Lynch said he did not have an adequate explanation as to why it took the department four years to take action against the defendant after that warning.

The offending period had stretched from October 2010 to February last year.

Davidson pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining a financial advantage by deception.

When questioned by police, she said she had had a gambling problem, Ms Bloom said.

Her barrister Steve Kissick told the court his client came from a dysfunctional family but for the last three years she had been in full-time employment as a disability support worker which she enjoyed.

She had an adult son and a nine-year-old son who would reside with his client’s sister should she be jailed.

His client had been battling anxiety and depression for some years, Mr Kissick said.

A psychological report on Davidson was placed before the court.

Judge Lynch said this was a serious example of social security fraud because of the length of time of offending and the amount involved.

“These are not victimless crimes by any stretch of the imagination, it’s fraud on the taxpayer,” he said.

Judge Lynch sentenced Davidson to two years’ jail but ordered she be released on a good behaviour bond for three years after having served three months in custody.

Judge Lynch ordered Davidson pay back to the department the $62,832.