A Brooklyn grandmother admitted Wednesday to living a double life in order to collect almost $300,000 in government handouts meant for the needy.
Joyce Anne Cohen, 60, has been collecting Social Security benefits and housing subsidies since 1994, under her given name, she said.
The troubled granny told the government she was unable to work because of “cocaine addiction” and “major depression” when she filed for Social Security in 1991.
Meanwhile, Cohen assumed the identity of her husband’s first wife, Sarah Werezberger, in order to work as a registered nurse – a profession she’s held since 1988 – to continue illegally collecting the $284,000 in funds.
Cohen married her now-ex hubby in 1990, the next year filing to change her name to Sarah Werezbeger.
While that request was granted, she still held a Social Security card under her real name, and filed for benefits claiming she was unable to hold down a job due to addiction, mental health problems, and “borderline intellect,” according to court papers.
Cohen tearfully admitted to Judge Eric Vitaliano Wednesday that she’d accepted the cash.
“The intention was to get Social Security benefits when we were not entitled to them,” she sobbed. “My ex-husband didn’t tell Social Security that I was working, and I didn’t tell them either.”
While Cohen mentioned other health problems, the cocaine addiction mentioned in the indictment was not discussed.
It remains unclear what happened to the real Sarah Werezberger, though Cohen’s husband never divorced her, court papers say.
Cohen faces up to five years behind bars when sentenced.
