A HADDINGTON woman claimed more than £16,000 in benefits she was not entitled to after buying her home and failing to inform the Department for Work and Pensions.

Helen Nelson was given the large sum of Universal Credit without being entitled to the cash after she became the owner of her home on the town’s Amisfield Place.

Nelson claimed a total of £16,250 of Universal Credit benefits between November 12, 2020 and November 24, 2022.

The 47-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence when she appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on March 27 and was due to be sentenced last Wednesday.

But when the case called, the court was told that the required social work report was not available as Nelson had not turned up for the appointment.

Solicitor Angela Craig said that her client “maintains she did not receive any letter” about the appointment and sentence was further deferred for the report and a restriction of liberty order assessment to later this month.