April 17, 2016 2:00pm by David Farrar

A major ACC fraud

A Marlborough widow has 40 days to pay back $373,000 after lying to ACC about her new partner.

The woman illegally claimed benefits for close to a decade, saying she was not in a de facto relationship, despite living with her new boyfriend, building a house and having a child with him.

The woman, who cannot be named, was eligible for survivor’s grants and weekly compensation from ACC after her husband died in an accident in the late 1980s.

She signed an ACC form every year until 2012 stating she was not married or in a de facto relationship.

However, an ACC investigation discovered her new partner moved into her home in 1992.

They had a child together later that year, and the man became joint owner of the property in 1996.

The couple acquired a further 10 properties over the years.

ACC’s investigation in 2013 determined their relationship was “in the nature of marriage”, and weekly compensation to the woman should have stopped in 2004.

Her payments stopped following the investigation.

She admitted in an interview with ACC that she lived with the man and that they had a child together.

But she denied their relationship was de facto or in the nature of marriage.

They live together. They own property together and they have children. Of course they are a de facto couple.

She just has entitlementitis. Believed she should have got state support for ever.

She was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, which was converted to 12 months’ home detention.

She was also sentenced to 150 hours’ community work, and to repay $373,000 within 40 days.

If the woman had not paid the full amount by May 25, the court would apply to review the sentence and the only option would be prison, Judge Ruth said.

A very light sentence. Four week’s community work and staying at home.