A Dundee woman who fraudulently claimed £35,000 in benefits will be sentenced next month.
Jacqueline Spankie repeatedly told the Department for Work and Pensions she was single despite being married to husband Ross and having two children with him.
A tip-off led to a “thorough” investigation that uncovered the deception that saw her handed £35,000 in working and child tax credits fraudulently.
Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson told Dundee Sheriff Court that the probe found they had been on a family holiday to Florida in 2013 and that Ross was named as Spankie’s next of kin at her work.
She said: “On numerous occasions she reiterated that there had been no change in her circumstances to disclose to DWP.
“On some occasions she was actively asked if it was a single or joint application and she insisted it was single.
“When investigators got in touch with Ross Spankie asking him to interview, she phoned crying and said she had opened the letter to her partner which stated she was being investigated.
“She said her partner knew nothing of her claiming tax credits.”
Spankie, 37, Graham Court, Barns of Claverhouse, admitted a charge under the Tax Credits Act.
Sheriff Elizabeth Munro deferred sentence until February 10 for reports.