A WOMAN who was left almost £30,000 when her father died received nearly £4,000 in benefits she was not entitled to because she failed to tell the authorities of her legacy.

Lynn Curnow, 52, of Wheal Rose, Porthleven, pleaded guilty at Truro’s magistrates’ court to three offences,after  failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting her entitlement to social security benefit between December 2012 and April 2013.

Kevin Hill, prosecuting, said the legacy took her over the prescribed limit in order to qualify for the benefit she sought and which she had been receiving for a number of years.

When interviewed she admitted she had received almost £30,000 in December last year but had not notified Cornwall Council or the Department of Work and Pensions. She had been overpaid £3,900 in housing benefit, council tax benefit and employment and support allowances.

Robert Warner, for Curnow, said she fully accepted she should have promptly notified the authorities of her change in circumstances but this had happened against a background of ill health and grieving for her father. She had since repaid the overpayment in full.

Curnow was fined £500 with costs of £1,035.20 and a £50 victim surcharge.