A Welling mum claimed £30,000 in Universal Credit for children who were no longer in her care, a court heard.
Natasha Goshawk, of Tyrell Avenue, appeared for sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday (September 2).
The 26-year-old previously admitted one offence of failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of a change that affected her entitlement to Universal Credit.
Alex Matthews, prosecuting, said: “From August 2019 until October 2025, the defendant was making a dishonest claim for benefits in relation to three children.”
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Goshawk’s first son was made the subject of an emergency care order in 2018, the court heard.
She went on to have two more children who were also removed from her care, Miss Matthews said.
But Goshawk continued to claim on Universal Credit applications that the three children were living with her.
This led to an overpayment totalling to £30,242.27 over the course of six years.
When Goshawk was interviewed by DWP fraud investigators in October 2025, she answered “no comment” to all questions.
She later pleaded guilty to the offence at Bromley Magistrates’ Court in July.
Gabriella Friend, defending, said Goshawk was already claiming benefits and had received social housing prior to the birth of her first son.
“She was aware that she was dishonestly making these claims, but she says she was influenced by the people she was associating with at the time,” Ms Friend said.
“She describes herself as gullible and was not aware of the seriousness of repercussions she might face.”
Miss Friend added that Goshawk has been diagnosed with ADHD and autism, impacting her decision-making.
She is currently paying the £30,000 back at a rate of £63 a month taken out of her Universal Credit.
Judge Daniel Dyal, sentencing, said: “Essentially, you were claiming Universal Credit at a level for someone that had the care of three children when in fact you didn’t have any children in your care.”
He said the claim was fraudulent from the outset and went on for a long period of time.
Judge Dyal sentenced Goshawk to 20 weeks in custody, suspended for one year.
She will be required to carry out up to 20 days of rehabilitation activities.
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