A mom was spotted lying about physical impairment to fraudulently claim government benefits through Facebook snaps.
The cheated mom claimed she suffered severe sclerosis
Recently, a 49-year-old mother has been sentenced to 8 months in prison for exaggerating the extent of her physical impairment to receive enhanced disability payments.
Sara Morris was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005.
She claimed she was so severely limited that she struggled to stand at the cooker or get out of the bath without assistance.
She also alleged that her anxiety was so crippling that a simple trip to the pharmacy to pick up her MS medication would reduce her to tears.
She received an enhanced rate of government benefits
Based on these claims, Morris was granted the ‘enhanced rate’ of Personal Independence Payment (PIP),
This is a benefit typically reserved for those who are wheelchair-bound or have lost the use of their limbs.
However, the reality painted a very different picture.
The cheated mom was spotted lying through Facebook snaps
Surveillance footage and social media posts told a completely different story about Morris’ physical capabilities.
Photos showed the mother-of-three cheerfully participating in 5km, 10km even full marathon running events as an active member of the Stone Master Marathoners club.
In one image, Morris could be seen waving to a photographer mid-race.
She exhibited no signs of the debilitating balance and mobility issues she had described.
Other posts showed her taking smiling selfies before and after running competitions.
The mom was sentenced to 8 months in prison for lying about her health condition
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) uncovered this deception after obtaining the damning photographic evidence.
It was revealed that between October 2020 and April 2023, Morris had fraudulently received a staggering $27,000 in enhanced PIP payments.
Appearing at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Morris pleaded guilty to the benefit fraud.
Her lawyer, Paul Cliff, acknowledged that “the application did not give the full picture” and “crossed over into the realms of dishonesty.”
Cliff argued that the severity of Morris’ MS varied over time.
However, the court eventually agreed with the prosecution’s view that Morris had “lied through her teeth” about the extent of her disability.
The judge emphasized the importance of deterring blatant fraud when handing down the 8-month prison sentence.
He noted that such actions undermine the integrity of the benefits system and take money away from those who genuinely need support.