A woman was found dead in a river after she became anxious she had claimed too much in benefits, an inquest heard.
Margaret Tyszkow, from Worcestershire, was a parish councillor for Badsey and a volunteer for Age UK.
She was reported missing to West Mercia Police on November 24 last year.
Her body wasn't found until a houseboat owner discovered it on January 27.
Worcestershire Coroner's Court heard how the 68-year-old had told the Parish Council clerk "she'd done a terrible thing and would be sent to prison", BirminghamLive reported.
However, it later transpired she only needed to pay back £4.55 to the Department for Work and Pensions(DWP).
Ms Tyszkow was last seen three days after a letter was sent out to inform her of that, but it is unclear if she ever saw that letter before she disappeared, the inquest heard.
Michelle Pocock, a Service Delivery Manager in the Benefits Department of South Worcestershire Partnership in Pershore, said: "Miss Tyszkow was claiming housing benefit and council tax support as well as Personal Independent Payment(PIP).
"On November 13 and 15, she wrote to us that she'd claimed the PIP awarded by the DWP and was not entitled to it as she'd exaggerated her condition.
"She had been entitled to PIP for many years and not expected this to change.
"Miss Tyszkow had an increase of £10,000 in capital and this could affect her housing benefit and pension credit.
"She was concerned she might have committed benefit fraud, however, this was not the case.
"In the end, the increase in the capital didn't affect her benefits too much and it transpired she would only owe £4.55.
"This was due to be deducted from the next housing benefit. This correspondence was sent out on November 21."
Ms Pocock said she was aware Ms Tyszkow was in hospital from September to November with mental health problems.
The court heard she was prescribed anti-psychotic medication.
Angela Evans, a clerk of Badsey Parish Council, said: "Margaret lived a simple life, she didn't drink alcohol and didn't have a television or own a computer.
"She was a recluse but enjoyed engaging with the community in her role[as parish councillor.
"During lockdown, her calls became less frequent and when she did speak, she sounded more forlorn."
Miss Evans added: "She said she couldn't be a parish councillor as she'd done a terrible thing and would be sent to prison."
After spending time in hospital in Bromsgrove, she returned home but said she "was worried about her finances" in the weeks before she went missing.
The court heard Mss Tyszkow had a long history of anxiety and mental health issues and went to see her GP feeling depressed in August last year.
A mental health team connected to Bromsgrove Hospital was keeping tabs on Ms Tyszkow when they alerted police that she had gone missing.
Lynette Kotiadis, who lives on a river boat in Evesham, discovered Miss Tyszkow in the River Avon on January 27.
She was preparing to moor off when she looked down, the court was told.
Andrew Walker carried out forensic examinations and used dental records to identify Ms Tyszkow as the body was so badly decomposed.
A post-mortem also ruled it was not possible to determine a cause of death due to decomposition, although there was no evidence of trauma.
Worcestershire Coroner Sarah Murphy recorded an open verdict and added: "She had a history of mental health issues and recent suicidal idolisation. It's not possible to determine how she came to enter the water."
She added: "There are several possibilities about the circumstances leading to the death. It's not possible to exclude that she collapsed."
Ms Tyszkow spent most of her life in Badsey.
She lived alone as her dad Eugeniusz Tyszkow died in 1970 and her German mum Irene died in 2012.
Despite having no family in the UK, around 50 mourners attended her funeral on March 17.
Friend Julie Westlake said in a eulogy: "She was always keen to know what everyone was doing and was so kind to all.
"She had huge compassion for people who felt lonely or isolated at the latter end of their lives and reached out to them.
"I think her care and concern was a particular gift, and she would go to extraordinary efforts to help someone."
