Agnieszka Macugowska, 45, jailed for 31 months after claiming £17,000 in benefits by pretending her dead mother was alive.
She pretended to care for her dead mother. Macugowska kept claiming benefits after her mom died, getting almost £200 each week. The scam went on for two years.
She even hired a woman to act like her mom in an attempt to trick council workers. This effort failed, and a court sentenced Macugowska to 31 months.
Her mother had a care plan with the council, starting in 2015. The council paid for her care weekly, and Macugowska helped her mother manage it.
Originally, payments were £184.28 per week, increasing to £191.36 in April 2019. The council needed more information to track payments.
In 2020, Macugowska lied about her mother, saying she still lived in Coventry. She changed her doctor and had treatment abroad, sending in timesheets and insurance papers.
Council workers visited her home in 2020, meeting Macugowska, a “mother,” and a “carer.” However, the real mother died in 2018 abroad.
The council recovered the money from Macugowska. Officials say many struggle while caring for loved ones, so they will investigate and prosecute those who steal. The council hopes this shows the consequences.