A mum who claimed up to £28,000 in disability benefits was rumbled by investigators after she was caught walking unaided. Cheryl Topham, 54, had initially been legitimately claiming Disability Living Allowance since 1992 after suffering from a number of health conditions which impacted her ability to walk and look after herself.
In 2015, she also received Employment Support Allowance legitimately. However, in 2017 she underwent a knee replacement which was successful, yet failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of her condition.
From then, she continued receiving payments into her bank account and was overpaid £28,263.70. Investigators became suspicious following a tip-off, and surveillance revealed her walking unaided, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
