A Massachusetts couple, Rachel Kadis and Brian Ferreira, have pleaded not guilty to charges alleging they improperly received more than $267,000 in welfare benefits. Prosecutors say Kadis falsely claimed to be a single mother without support from Ferreira, while the couple were living together and Ferreira was employed as a robotics engineer; the case concerns alleged misuse of public assistance programmes.

Investigators allege the benefits included about $167,000 from MassHealth, $45,500 in Social Security Income, $34,600 in SNAP payments, $14,500 in rental assistance and $6,200 from a state supplement programme. Prosecutors say Kadis submitted an altered lease omitting Ferreira, while Ferreira also received Veterans Administration payments; her lawyer says the couple had separated after his military deployment and that her applications were legitimate. Both were released subject to conditions, and they also face separate allegations concerning an earlier GoFundMe fundraiser, which they deny.