NewsUK NewsBenefitsShameless Helen Green, 49, told DWP officials that she could barely leave her house and could not walk for more than five minutes without crutches - but damning evidence emerged14:12, 19 May 2026Updated 14:33, 19 May 2026A woman who raked in £25,000 in benefits after claiming she was housebound was brought to justice after photos emerged of her running a gruelling 10k and kicking an opponent in her combat class.‌Helen Green successfully fleeced the Department for Work and Pensions out of the huge sum after claiming the Personal Independence Payment, a tax-free welfare boost for people to help with the extra costs of a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability.‌But the swindler, who says she suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis, was busted after footage emerged of her working out at the gym and snaps of the 49-year-old taking part in the race were handed to investigators. She had told the DWP she could barely feed herself, rarely left the house and could not even walk for more than five minutes without crutches.‌READ MORE: DWP benefit payment date change this week for thousands of peopleREAD MORE: Over 1m pensioners could be missing out on £458 a month DWP paymentHowever, photographs from a 10k showed her competently pounding the pavement without any crutches. Ms Green was also caught on security footage at the gym taking part in Zumba, Body Combat, Body Pump, Core Blast and Spin classes after the DWP was alerted to her deceit via a tip-off to their fraud line.She has appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court and was accused of falsely claiming £42,013 but her guilty plea to an amended charge of £25,244. She was jailed for seven months after pleading guilty to dishonestly failing to notify DWP of a change in circumstances.‌Green dishonestly told the DWP she needed assistance with washing, bathing, dressing, preparing meals, eating and drinking in her claim between January 2020 to March 2023.She even stated in her PIP documents her condition was lifelong and expected to worsen over time. But Green was undone after a call was made and an investigation was swiftly launched. Footage released by the DWP showed a compilation of Green working out in the gym, as well as her grinning and waving in a combat class which saw her kicking another class member.‌Labour's Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western said: “This is a slap in the face to taxpayers and the genuine claimants who depend on PIP to live their lives.“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.” Mandy Tobias of the Crown Prosecution Service added: “Helen Green pretended she had limited movement, but instead was a regular runner and active in gym classes.Article continues below"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.”Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Benefits