An East Boston woman admitted Thursday to collecting more than $50,000 in Social Security benefits that she was not entitled to receive, prosecutors said.

Patricia Grifoni, 53, pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to a charge of Social Security fraud, according to the US attorney’s office.

Grifoni’s lawyer, Joseph B. Simons, said in a phone interview that his client wanted to take responsibility for her actions by pleading guilty.

“Mrs. Grifoni decided that this was the best decision for her and for her family,’’ Simons said. He declined to comment further, except to say there is “still more to do’’ ahead of sentencing.

Grifoni illegally pocketed $51,530 between 2005 and 2011 on behalf of her disabled daughter, the US attorney’s office said in a statement.

The case stemmed from disability benefits that Grifoni began receiving lawfully on behalf of her daughter in 1993, based on the family’s financial need.

However, Grifoni falsely told the government in 1995 that her husband no longer lived with her, so Social Security did not include his income when calculating the daughter’s benefits, prosecutors said.

But Grifoni’s husband had lived with Grifoni and her daughter since at least 2005, and “his income would have made their daughter financially ineligible to receive benefits from 2005 to 2011,’’ the statement said.

Grifoni’s sentencing is slated for March 10, and she faces a maximum prison term of five years and a fine of up to $250,000, according to prosecutors. She remains free on bond pending sentencing.

Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com.