Elderly woman jailed for stealing almost $250k in welfare payments

An elderly Melbourne woman has been jailed for stealing almost $250,000 in welfare payments using a fake identity.

Eighty-one-year-old Nita Dance was found to be receiving extra benefits using an alias she had set up under the name of a friend who had passed away, according to the Herald Sun.

She has been jailed for six months and ordered to repay $237,000.

County Court Judge Graeme Hicks said Ms Dance’s 17-year long scheme was motivated by greed.

The Melbourne woman was found to have set up a fake bank account and post office box, after deciding that the benefits she was receiving under her own name were not sufficient.

Ms Dance had endured a difficult childhood, living in extreme poverty and turning to street prostitution in her 30s to provide for her family.

The judge acknowledged her previous hardships and the fact that her offences did not in any way lead to a "luxurious lifestyle".

Despite her "dire" state of health, Ms Dance was sentenced to 12 months jail time with the possibility of release after six months pending good-behaviour.