Vanita Lindsay received $8,816.20 for a job she never held.

About a year ago, this stay-at-home mom from Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, decided to apply for a job with the federal government that would allow her to work from home.

She was added to a recruiting pool and was then invited to take some online tests. In July, she got an interview and was offered a position as a clerk in a Canada Pension Plan call center.

After spending 20 years without work and living with a chronic illness, Lindsay began to reflect just days before starting her new job.

“I emailed the next morning and said, ‘I’m sorry, this has nothing to do with you or anything like that, but I just can’t do the job.’ So, I thought that was it,” Lindsay said. “So go on and enjoy your summer.”

Fast forward to August 14, when she checked her online banking.

“I’m like, ‘Oh my God, they paid me,'” Lindsay said.

She immediately emailed her future supervisor, but received no response. Two weeks later, she was paid again.

She has now sent numerous emails and made several phone calls, only to be told that the issue had been fixed or was being looked into. Amid mixed messages, the money continues to flow.

“I put it all in a different account because it’s not my money,” Lindsay said.

The family tried to repay the money, without success.

“With my husband’s career, I don’t need the money,” Lindsay said. “It should go to someone who is struggling to feed their children.”

She’s concerned the family could end up in a higher tax bracket and the extra income could impact their drug coverage and child tax benefit.

“It’s hilarious and weird and a little messed up,” Lindsay said.

CTV News reached out to the federal government for comment but did not receive a response by deadline.

In the meantime, Lindsay just wants the paychecks to stop.

“I want this done because it’s just ridiculous,” Lindsay said.