A woman who claimed the Red Cross grants of vulnerable families after the Canterbury earthquakes has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison.

Donna Paish received 18-thousand dollars from the Red Cross using different names and addresses, between 2010 and 2011.

The money was meant to be used for people who had to leave their homes, or live without power, but she spent it on KFC, alcohol and the drug P.

Judge Michael Crosbie said an aggravating factor was that actual occupants missed out on grants.

"It is not simply a matter of you fraudulently obtaining eighteen thousand dollars, you actually deprived people who needed those grants."

The 40-year-old's sentence also incorporated convictions for benefit fraud.