Mum’s Centrelink rort claiming $210k for long dead baby

A mother rorted Centrelink for almost 15 years by pretending her dead, disabled baby was still alive.

From 1998 until 2013, Alison Christie Mains, now aged 39, took home nearly $210,000 in regular welfare payments for her daughter Tyler Marie.

There was just one problem – her severely disabled daughter had died just months after she was born, a court has heard. 

But that didn’t stop the Mortdale woman from claiming the Child Carer Allowance, Family Tax Benefit or Parenting Payment year after year.

Sydney mother Alison Christie Mains (pictured) rorted the Department of Human Services between the second half of 1998 and March 2013, claiming she was caring for a disabled child

Ms Mains led the government to believe she was providing daily care to her daughter Tyler Marie - who was dead

She regularly rang the Department of Human Services to ask for advance payments

Ms Mains (pictured left and right) led the government to believe she was providing daily care to her daughter Tyler Marie – who was long dead

Baby Tyler was born at King George V Hospital in April 1998 - but had a severe neurological disorder and died within months (stock picture) 

Baby Tyler was born at King George V Hospital in April 1998 – but had a severe neurological disorder and died within months (stock picture) 

District Court documents revealed she was overpaid $85,969.32 in family tax benefit since July 2000, $39403.80 in child carer allowance since July 1998 and $83,741.46 in the parenting payment since November 1998.

Mains told the Department of Human Services a litany of lies to get her hands on the parenting payment, the court heard.

She would regularly ring up the Department of Human Services asking for advances because of her daughter’s medical condition.

The first call for an advance came on 14 October 1998 where she claimed Tyler was still alive and in her care. In reality, the little girl, who suffered severe neurological dysfunction, had passed away more than two months prior.

Mains would claim she had used previous payments on Tyler’s ‘medical expenses’ and even once claimed she was moving to Port Macquarie and would be taking care of her daughter but she was ‘in palliative care that day but would take her with her’.  

Court papers listed a series of calls between 1998 and 2011 when Ms Mains referred to her child’s condition ‘in the context of seeking an advance payment’. 

Ms Mains, pictured, now faces up to 20 years imprisonment for defrauding and deceiving the Commonwealth

Ms Mains, pictured, now faces up to 20 years imprisonment for defrauding and deceiving the Commonwealth

A former neighbour told Daily Mail Australia Mains had a 'good heart' but knew she had troubles with authorities

A former neighbour told Daily Mail Australia Mains had a ‘good heart’ but knew she had troubles with authorities

The Department launched an investigation in April 2012 and asked her for an interview in March 2013. 

The payments soon stopped and charges were eventually laid in 2015, with Commonwealth prosecutors alleging she had been overpaid $209,114.58.

A former neighbour told Daily Mail Australia Mains had a ‘good heart’ but knew she had troubles with authorities. 

Mains could face up to 20 years imprisonment. 

The Department of Human Services declined to comment as the case is before the courts. Mains was also approached for comment.  

She did not appear at a court mention last week and will be sentenced April 6.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk