Forty-thousand taxpayer dollars went to a Raetihi couple who lied about their relationship while receiving benefits, a Wanganui court heard yesterday.
Jeana Brown was on the domestic purposes benefit in 2009 but said she had separated from her husband and was living apart from him, Judge David Cameron said in the Whanganui District Court.
Brown and her husband, Warren Brown, got back together and were living together, however, and she received an overpayment of $18,390.72.
Warren Brown, who was on a sickness benefit, received an overpayment of $21,658.46.
He pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining by deception, while she pleaded guilty to the same charge, plus two counts of dishonestly using a document. Neither of them have previous convictions.