A woman who claimed more than £3,000 in benefits while she was working has been told she will have to pay all the money back.
Sophie Mallard claimed income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit between October 2010 and February 2011, while at the same time carrying out work for an agency.
After receiving information Mallard had been working, Wellingborough Council launched a joint investigation with the Department for Work and Pensions and discovered she was employed.
Mallard, 21, of Elizabeth Way, Earls Barton received £1,118.35 in income support, £1,663.96 in housing benefit and £260.57 council tax benefit she was not entitled to.
She was interviewed under caution at Wellingborough Council offices, and was later charged to appear at Northampton Magistrates Court.
Mallard pleaded guilty to two offences – one of failing to declare work to obtain income support and one of failing to declare work to obtain housing and council tax benefit.
She was given an 18 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs.
Wellingborough Council leader Paul Bell said: “We take benefit fraud extremely seriously. We have an excellent track record in uncovering fraud, and we hope that by pursuing another successful prosecution it should serve as a warning to others who think they can get away with cheating the system.
“Those who fraudulently claim benefits are putting an additional, unnecessary burden on the taxpayer and we will do what we can to stop it.”
Wellingborough Council has said it will pursue full recovery of the overpayment.