Scots OAP conned nearly £2k in taxpayer cash over brother's funeral

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A pensioner used her brother's death to con the benefits agency out of nearly £2,000. Mary Johnston, 70, claimed a 'funeral support payment' she was not entitled to when her brother Charles Kelbie passed away.Dundee Sheriff Court was told that Johnston distributed all of Mr Kelbie's cash between his grandchildren after his death.The court heard that there was no money left to pay funeral costs so she made a dodgy claim for benefits from Social Security Scotland.She admitted giving false and misleading information to the benefits agency by claiming that her late brother had died without any life insurance policy.The court was told that Johnston was paid £1,625 to pay funeral costs after giving the fake information to Social Security Scotland. Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Johnston, of Dundee, admitted carrying out the fraudulent offence on 20 September 2021.

Solicitor Morgan Day, defending, said Johnston had saved £130 to pay back and had also set up a payment plan to hand back £20 per month.Ms Day said: "That is to be continued until the full sum is paid.

The situation arose because there was an insurance policy in relation to her deceased brother."It was, on her brother's wishes, to be paid equally to his grandchildren.

She has provided bank statements to show £5,000 was distributed as per his wishes."That left her unable to pay funeral costs.