Sumira Amin, 36, claimed she lived alone in a rented property with her children and had no savings or capital interest – but she was rumbled by anti-fraud squads
07:17, 10 Oct 2025
Sumira Amin, aged 36, told the DWP she lived alone in a rented property with her children.
A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits cheat has been busted for claiming a whopping £56,000 in Universal Credit – all while owning a house. Sumira Amin, 36, had told the DWP she was a single mum living in a rented property with her kids.
But the scammer had also claimed she had no savings or capital interest – a fib that’s been exposed by anti-fraud investigators. Prosecutor Amy Edwards revealed Amin had claimed Universal Credit worth a staggering £56,124.
“She was paid the Universal Credit on the basis she was a single parent living in privately rented accommodation from July 2019 to October 2022. She reported that she had no savings or capital interests,” Edwards said.
She broke the rules(Image: PA)
However, Land Registry records showed Amin and her partner had actually bought the property in 2018. According to the MEN, Amin’s barrister Simon Leong said: “She has a complicated relationship with the father of her children.
“He pressured her to have her name on the mortgage to make it easier for him. She is the sole carer of her children, her children’s father is not a supportive gentleman.”, reports Birmingham Live.
Judge Paul Lawton said: “Looking at all of your references and your pre-sentence report, it is clear that you are the sort of individual who is not the driving force or the planning mind behind this sort of benefit fraud.
“You were put in place and pushed on by somebody else to make these claims. It seems to me you are a woman who needs help at this stage in your life.”
Under DWP rules, anyone who’s been overpaid will receive a letter in the post. If you reckon there’s been a blunder, you can request a mandatory reconsideration.
Typically, you need to do this within one month of getting the letter.
Your landlord might be asked to cough up the cash if they’re responsible for an overpayment. If the mistake was on your end, you may have to foot the bill.
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