A 66-year-old woman has been convicted of fraud for illegally claiming over £14,000 in benefits while living in Greece. Dawna Bird, from Derby, failed to inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that she was staying outside the UK for more than 28 days, a condition that affects her eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP).
PIP is awarded to individuals with long-term physical or mental health conditions or disabilities that make daily tasks or mobility difficult. Between 2019 and 2023, Bird spent more than 1,000 days in Greece, where she also advertised her services as a childminder on Facebook. She also posted online about selling furniture and seeking large suitcases, indicating plans to move abroad.
Bird admitted to the fraud on the first day of her trial and was sentenced to a five-month prison term, suspended for one year. She has also begun repaying the defrauded amount in installments. "The evidence was pretty overwhelming and in the end you have seen sense," Judge Shaun Smith KC told Bird.
Prosecutor Stefan Fox stated that Bird claimed PIP in February 2019 and received information that she needed to report any absence from the UK. Despite this, she did not notify the DWP of her extended stays in Greece. Evidence, including screenshots from Facebook, confirmed her presence in Greece and her offering of childminding services in both English and Greek.
Bird returned to the UK in August 2023 and denied living abroad during a voluntary interview. She has prior convictions for theft and handling stolen goods dating back to the 1980s. Her husband, Harry Bird, has already faced legal consequences for claiming approximately £70,000 in additional payments, receiving a suspended nine-month sentence.
Minister for Transformation Andrew Western issued a statement emphasizing the government's commitment to tackling benefit fraud. "The message is clear – don't think you can steal from hardworking taxpayers. Whatever your reasons for committing benefit fraud, know that our investigators are wise to every trick in the book and we will find you," Western said. He also urged the public to report suspected benefit fraud.