I faked my own disability for 11 years

Yes, I Finally got caught and sentenced to community service, I was paid £700 a month for the last 11 years, so I’m probably in debt to the government. <br><br>I don’t know why I did it. It’s absolutely wrong what I did, but I was 17 when I filled out the application and I was barely making ends meet at the time between bills and my job, so I filled it out in order to get extra money and extra benefits.<br>I ended up receiving disability benefits for the last 11 years, and I felt so guilty but I also felt like I couldn’t afford to live without it, so I just kept collecting it.<br>I met my bf 6 years ago and he always questioned why I was receiving it, but I just told him that I was chronically sick with migraines and pain, and he believed me until he saw my application for pip. It was too late by then and I couldn’t take it back. <br>I just let him take over and fill out the rest of the application, and that’s when he said that I was lying about everything. He gave me 3 options, confess and tell the truth, get a solicitor and fight it, or just take the green light and risk being caught.<br>I didn’t want to risk it after that and told the truth to my bf, and fortunately he stood by me while I confessed. I confessed and received a call back from someone at the government office who basically told me that I would probably be sentenced to house arrest but she couldn’t confirm that, and said that I would also have to pay back all of the money, and that I would have no choice in the matter. I came clean to my parents and they were disappointed as well as my sisters. It’s been 2 months since I got my disability taken away and I was sentenced to community service and I have to work 3 days a month until I pay back everything. <br><br>I’ve literally cried so much about this, I can’t believe I was so fucking stupid. I got a second job and I’m doing everything I can to pay it back as soon as possible so I can get it over with. God forbid I was ever in an accident, and couldn’t pay it back. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.<br><br>Edit: I feel like I need to edit this post because people are saying that I’m “rich” and have a comfortable life? This was 11 years ago, I was 17 years old. I was not from a wealthy family and was barely making ends meet. I had to work 2-3 jobs and I didn’t have the best quality of life. It was barely minimum wage back then when I applied. I make more than that now, obviously. But I didn’t do this because I wanted to be rich, I didn’t even spend this money on lavish things, I was barely able to pay my bills and rent. I realise that it’s wrong and I got myself in a lot of trouble.<br>Edit: I want to clarify again that I was barely making ends meet on minimum wage, and there is no way I could afford to live with that amount. I see a lot of comments saying that they would be comfortable with £700 and they could afford to live with that, and that makes me realise that not everyone is in the same boat. <br><br>Edit: I understand that a lot of people won’t forgive me for this, and I don’t expect it. I’m just sharing my story because I feel guilty and I want to get it off my chest. I don’t condone what I have done.