€14.5m in fraudulent claims uncovered in welfare review

A REVIEW of welfare payments in Cork, Kerry and Limerick by the Department of Social Protection uncovered €14.5 million in fraudulent claims last year, according to new figures.

The savings were recouped by the department’s southern division through 29,642 individual reviews in 2009.

The majority of the reviews, 23,626, related to jobseekers allowance/benefit claims. Almost 3,000 others referred to the One Parent Family payment and almost 900 were in relation to illness benefit claims.

As a result, €5.24m was saved from the review of the jobseekers’ claims and €6.5m from the review of the One Parent Family payment claims.

Cork South Central TD Michael McGrath, who obtained the figures, said the data released did not reflect the full extent of anti-fraud activity because reviews carried out by the department centrally were not included.

“Therefore, these figures can only be taken as indicative and in no way reflect the true level of welfare fraud,” he said.

“In all, 356 cases of social welfare fraud were finalised in court in 2009, with 29 of these relating to the southern region. Of those, 26 related to people working while claiming jobseeker’s payments.”

The main outcomes in court were as follows: Twelve had fines imposed, four received a prison sentence, five were given the probation and two received a suspended sentence.

Mr McGrath said it was clear the department was putting a lot of resources into tackling social welfare fraud and was having a significant degree of success.

“However, dealing with the issue of welfare fraud is an ongoing battle which will have to continue into the future,” he said.

“All instances of fraud, whether perpetrated by private citizens, public servants or politicians, are serious matters and must be dealt with in accordance with the law.”

He pointed out that the central control section of the department accepts reports of possible fraud offered by members of the public in relation to its schemes.

“Reports are accepted by email, phone or in writing. All reports are dealt with in confidence,” he said.

Email address: central. [e-mail]; Tel: [phone] or by post to Central Control Division, Shannon Lodge, Carrick- on- Shannon, Co Leitrim.”