PPI pensioner claimed illegal benefits

A pensioner illegally claimed council benefits, despite having hidden bank accounts stashed with cash obtained through PPI refunds. Navy widow Elsie Quinlan’s crimes were revealed after a tip-off that she hadn’t declared her meagre pension when applying for housing and council tax benefits.

That sparked a lengthy council investigation in which the authority probed the 73-year-old’s bank account – only to find out she had another four accounts.

Those contained over £17,000, which “frugal” Quinlan claimed largely consisted of her daughter’s savings along with money obtained from PPI refunds and tax rebates.

But it was Quinlan’s failure to declare her Highland Council pension – worth just £1,115 per year – that landed her in trouble.

The shamed pensioner pleaded guilty to 10 charges at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on Friday October 9. She was so ashamed about her first ever court appearance she had kept it a secret from her family.

Prosecutors for Ryedale Council claimed that following the launch of their investigation, it took a “quite considerable” amount of work to bring Quinlan to court.

Her solicitor Michael Davies told the hearing she had been nothing but open with the authority. But it’s investigation found she had racked up an overpayment of over £5,600 between 2005 and 2010.

The charges were altered to remove any accusation that the money had been claimed dishonestly, and her solicitor Mr Davies added: “It just never crossed her mind to disclose (the pension) to the authority.”

She made the repayment almost instantly, and has since moved from Ryedale to Berkshire. She was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and hit with a £560 costs bill.