A COUPLE convicted of fraudulently claiming £226,000 in benefits were pretending to be siblings, it can be revealed.

David Aston and Eugina Wallis, from Hurstpierpoint, were jailed after claiming welfare benefits for eight years while pretending to be brother and sister.

The couple, who had got married abroad, failed to declare their marital status and also wrote letters to Arun District Council, Mid Sussex District Council and Department for Work and Pensions providing false names.

They claimed Employment Support Allowance and Housing Benefit before an investigation, following a letter was sent to the council by a member of the public, led to their arrest.

Aston and Wallis pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 22 months and 36 weeks in prison respectively.

The Minister for Welfare Delivery David Rutley said: “It’s despicable that this couple lied so brazenly about being brother and sister to attempt to steal money from those who need it, and it’s right that they have been put behind bars.

“Our fraud investigators are committed to bringing benefit cheats like these to justice. So don’t think you can get away with lying to us because we will find you.”

According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), people lying about living alone is one of the most common types of benefit fraud committed in the UK.

“Failing to declare who lives in your household when you make a claim for benefits or failing to report changes in circumstances that may affect your entitlement to benefits can be a criminal offence,” a DWP spokesman said.

Convicted benefit cheats must pay back stolen funds and face a criminal record, and even prison.

The spokesman added: “The DWP has a variety of different tools in their arsenal to detect and catch fraudsters, including public tip offs, an extensive network of professionals monitoring cases, and advanced data matching techniques.

“You need to report changes to your circumstances, so you keep getting the right amount of benefits.”

The DWP uncovers thousands of benefit fraud cases every year. In 2020, the DWP prevented at least £1.9 billion in benefits from being paid to fraudsters.