A woman who claimed she struggled to leave the house or walk has been jailed for benefit fraud after CCTV footage showed her taking part in exercise classes at a gym and completing a 10k race.

Helen Green, 49, from Shrewsbury, received more than £25,000 in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) between January 2020 and March 2023 after telling the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) she suffered severe rheumatoid arthritis in every joint and a slipped disk that left her housebound and in need of crutches.

Green claimed her arthritis was a lifelong condition that would progressively worsen and said she could not walk for more than five minutes without the use of crutches. She also told officials she needed help with washing, bathing, dressing, preparing meals, eating and drinking.

A tip-off to the DWP fraud line prompted an investigation that uncovered extensive evidence contradicting her statements to the department. Investigators discovered that Green was a member of a running club and took part in multiple 10k races, one of which she completed in an hour and three minutes, despite her claims of severe mobility problems.

CCTV footage also showed her actively participating in gym classes including Zumba, body combat, body pump, core blast and spin, all of which require considerable physical activity and contradict the limited mobility she reported.

Green pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify the DWP of a change in her circumstances, which affected her benefit entitlement, and was jailed for seven months at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Tuesday.

Mandy Tobias, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“Helen Green pretended she had limited movement, but instead was a regular runner and active in gym classes. She did this for her own greed and lined her pockets with fraudulently obtained money. The Crown Prosecution Service presented strong evidence thanks to the investigation work of the DWP showing Green’s deception, resulting in her guilty plea.”

Minister for Transformation Andrew Western described Green’s deception as a “slap in the face to taxpayers and the genuine claimants who depend on PIP to live their lives”. He added:

“Helen Green wasn’t just burning calories at the gym, she was also peddling lies and our investigators caught up with her. Let this be a warning – you can’t outrun the DWP.”

The case sheds the light on a broader concern among the public about benefit fraud and its impact on genuine claimants who rely on support for legitimate health issues. Videos and images of someone actively exercising while claiming to be housebound have fuelled anger and frustration online. One commenter said,

“Tired of these people, an absolute menace to society! With their free time aswell!!!!”

Another wrote,

“But then they like to blame the immigrants for coming to collect their benefits. I also have a Caucasian neighbour who likes to lie to the government that she still cannot work/walk. That woman runs after her dogs and her grandson, dressed in pink designers all day, every day..”

The Department for Work and Pensions said it remains committed to protecting public funds and ensuring that those who fraudulently claim benefits are caught and prosecuted. Officials emphasised that fraud undermines trust in the welfare system and could lead to delays or scepticism for those with genuine disabilities.