Vic welfare cheat to avoid long jail term

A Victorian father who pleaded guilty to defrauding the government of thousands of dollars in welfare benefits will likely only serve a few weeks in jail.

Malik Khan faced the Victorian County Court on Tuesday after earlier pleading guilty to repeatedly defrauding the Commonwealth.

After his defence lawyer said Khan's wife and children rely on Khan, who has not worked since 2008, to care for them, Judge Barbara Cotterell said she planned to sentence him to less than two months in jail given the "exceptional circumstances".