CHICAGO (CBS) — A Westmont mother of four is accused of pocketing housing assistance for which she did not qualify.

The suspect, 40-year-old Nicole Bailey, collected $15,834 in Section 8 housing assistance over an eight-year period that ended earlier this month.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release that Bailey claimed the entire time that she did not know where to find her husband, and that he was unemployed.

Acting on a tip, the state’s attorney’s office found that Bailey lived at the Westmont address with his family.

Berlin calls the case “troubling,” especially at a time when so many other families are truly in need.

Bond is set at $30,000.

If convicted, she could get up to 15 years in prison.