Who is Susan Pearson?

Susan Pearson, a 58-year-old divorcee, was a benefit fraudster who claimed over £40,000 in Universal Credit payments over a five-year period while regularly taking extravagant holidays abroad.

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Benefit Cheat Splurges £40K on Luxury Holidays, Avoids Jail

Q: How did Susan Pearson's fraud get exposed?

Pearson's fraudulent activities were uncovered after a data match revealed she had undeclared savings with Nationwide and a Co-Funds investment account, including a £13,000 lump sum withdrawal, despite claiming to have no money.

Q: What happened to Susan Pearson after her fraud was discovered?

Pearson admitted two charges of dishonestly failing to disclose information at Bolton Crown Court. While she avoided a jail sentence, the court ordered her to use her savings to repay the money she had stolen from the welfare system.

29 Aug

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Summary

Fraudster claimed £40,334 in Universal Credit over 5 years
Spent money on extravagant foreign trips to Cyprus, Lanzarote, etc.
Avoided jail sentence, ordered to repay funds from savings

Benefit Cheat Splurges £40K on Luxury Holidays, Avoids Jail

In August 2025, it was revealed that a benefit fraudster named Susan Pearson, 58, had scammed the UK government out of over £40,000 in Universal Credit payments over a five-year period. Pearson, from Platt Bridge in Wigan, had lied about her financial situation to claim the benefits, all while regularly posting photos on social media of her extravagant foreign holidays to destinations like Cyprus, Lanzarote, Tenerife, and Tunisia.

Pearson's fraudulent activities came to light after a data match uncovered that she had undeclared savings with Nationwide and a Co-Funds investment account, including a £13,000 lump sum withdrawal. Despite claiming to have no money, the divorcee had been using the stolen Universal Credit funds to finance her lavish trips abroad, leading friends to dub her "Miss Holiday".

Pearson, who also received a £536 council tax discount through her deception, ultimately admitted two charges of dishonestly failing to disclose information at Bolton Crown Court. While she avoided a jail sentence, the court ordered her to use her savings to repay the money she had stolen from the welfare system.

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