A South-West woman has been ordered to pay back more than $15,000 of social services money that she unlawfully obtained.
Represented by defence counsel Twistie Venning, Carly Amanda Lemmone returned to Bunbury Magistrates Court last month for sentencing.
Lemmone previously pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining a financial advantage from a person or the Commonwealth through deception.
A Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions representative told the court that Lemmone had "intentionally misrepresented her true circumstances to the Department of Human Services".
The court heard that, from November 3, 2016 to July 27, 2018, she provided false declarations/statements in order to obtain Newstart Allowance payments from the Commonwealth.
The prosecution said she was employed as a Centrelink Customer Service Officer at the time and had failed to declare her full income from that employment.
The court heard Lemmone earned $81,996.09 in gross income from employment, but only declared $31,613.96 to the department when she reported on a fortnightly basis.
The prosecution said she made one active false nil declaration, 43 false under-declarations, and two over-declarations.
During this time, the prosecution said the department deposited Newstart Allowance payments into an account belonging to Lemmone.
After detecting the offending behaviour, the department conducted an interview with Lemmone in September 2018.
The court heard she made several admissions to the department, including: "There would have been times most often that I did not declare my income correctly".
According to the prosecution, she knew/believed she was not eligible to receive those payments.
The overpayment in social security benefits totalled $16,133.85. Lemmone has since paid back more than $600.
Mr Venning said his client had suffered significant mental health issues and financial pressures.
"She has realised that her mental health issues must be addressed," Mr Venning told the court.
"She also acknowledges that she did the wrong thing."
Mr Venning said she pleaded guilty at an early opportunity and had cooperated with the investigating officers.
Magistrate Belinda Coleman reminded Lemmone about the seriousness of her actions.
The magistrate handed down a Commonwealth Order with an eight-month term of imprisonment - suspended for 18 months - and a $1000 bond.
Lemmone also received a reparation order and court costs.
