Derby woman gets suspended sentence for £14,000 PIP fraud

A 66-year-old Derby woman has received a suspended prison sentence after admitting to fraudulently claiming more than £14,000 in disability benefits while living abroad for years. Dawna Bird pleaded guilty at Derby Crown Court on the day her trial was due to begin.

Bird was sentenced to five months in prison, suspended for one year. The court heard she was legally obligated to inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if she left the United Kingdom for more than 28 days, as this directly affected her eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Despite this requirement, she spent more than 1,000 days residing in Greece between 2019 and 2023 while continuing to receive the benefit.

Prosecutor Stefan Fox outlined the case, stating Bird's initial PIP claim in February 2019 was legitimate and approved. However, evidence later emerged that she was living overseas. An investigation uncovered Facebook posts where she discussed plans to move abroad, advertised her services as a childminder in Greece, and documented her presence there. Bird returned to the UK in August 2023 and, during a voluntary interview, denied having lived abroad despite the evidence.