A Butler County woman is accused of illegally obtaining nearly $5,500 in public assistance benefits in 2016 and 2017.

On Thursday, the Pennsylvania Inspector General's Office charged Pamela J. Iman, 37, of Butler Township with felony and misdemeanor counts of welfare fraud.

Between Dec. 1, 2016, and July 31, 2017, according to authorities, she fraudulently collected $4,088 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, formerly known as food stamps.

Authorities said Iman was not entitled to the assistance because she failed to report her employment and income to the state Department of Human Services.

The defendant, investigators noted, was earning income from Sept. 2, 2016, through Aug. 18, 2017.

Additionally, documents said, Iman fraudulently received $1,403 in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program benefits between Oct. 1, 2016, and July 31, 2017.

Investigators noted that due to her household income, she was not eligible for the LIHEAP assistance.

Iman is charged with a third-degree felony count of fraudulently receiving SNAP benefits.

If convicted of that charge, the maximum penalty she faces is seven years in prison and a fine of $15,000, plus a mandatory disqualification period from the benefits program.

She is charged with a second-degree misdemeanor count of fraudulently receiving LIHEAP benefits.

Iman, if convicted of that charge, faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine of $5,000 as well as a mandatory disqualification period from the program.

Her preliminary hearing in the case was not immediately scheduled.