Between them, Delphina Ngaheke and John Henderson-Newport received more than $80,000 of benefit money to which they were not entitled.
Each appeared for sentencing in the Whanganui District Court on Wednesday.
They had received benefits from 2009 onwards, having agreed to advise if their circumstances changed, such as if they began living with a person in the nature of marriage or gained employment.
Ngaheke started with KFC in 2011 and was in a relationship with Henderson-Newport in the nature of marriage but did not advise of the changes.
Between 2010 and 2015 Ngaheke received an overpayment in benefits of $44,936.51, while Henderson-Newport, who worked for the Wanganui Chronicle despite being on a benefit, was overpaid $39,146.20.
A pre-sentence report assessed Ngaheke, 30, was at a low risk of reoffending, but had "no real remorse", Judge David Cameron said. While she had no criminal history, she displayed "a sense of entitlement intended to minimise her offending".
Ngaheke admitted four counts of obtaining by deception, three of dishonestly using a document for pecuniary advantage and one of misleading a social-welfare officer.
She was sentenced to five months' community detention, with an 8pm-3am curfew on weekdays and 8pm Friday to 3am Monday. The judge also ordered her to do 150 hours of community work and repay the $44,936.51.
Henderson-Newport had an "unenviable" criminal history. The 40-year-old was considered to be at a medium risk of reoffending, with no remorse.
He also owed more than $2000 in fines, $45,000 in his student loan, $20,000 in child support and $45,000 to Baycorp. Henderson-Newport admitted four counts of obtaining by deception and three of using a document for pecuniary advantage.
Judge Cameron sentenced him to eight months' home detention and ordered him to pay reparation.