21,000 tip-offs to social welfare fraud hotline

The Department of Social Protection received more than 21,000 anonymous tip-offs from the public last year regarding suspected cases of social welfare fraud.

A dedicated phoneline and website facility is provided by the department for individuals to submit anonymous reports of suspected abuses by social welfare claimants.

Some 21,088 tip-offs were received from members of the public last year, triggering investigations into cases of suspected fraud.

There has been a substantial increase in the number of such reports since the onset of the economic crisis. In 2008, for example, 1,044 anonymous tip-offs were received by the department.

However, the number had increased to 16,917 in 2011 and 28,022 in 2012.

There has since been a gradual decline, with 24,720 tip-offs received in 2013 and 21,088 last year.

The figures were revealed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton in response to a parliamentary question by Galway West TD Brian Walsh this week.

Ms Burton said that all anonymous or confidential reports of possible fraud from the public are examined and, where relevant, are referred to inspectors for follow-up action.

She said that payments are not suspended on the basis of an anonymous report but the report may trigger a review of the claimant’s entitlements.

“Centrally, the department dealt with 21,088 reports of suspected fraud in 2014. In 14,882 of these cases, a report was sent to the relevant area for examination,” said Ms Burton.

In respect of 6,206 reports, it was not possible to pursue these further due to either a lack of information, no claim being in payment or the information reported did not impact on entitlement.

The section of the department’s website that facilitates the submission of anonymous tip-offs outlines a number of offences for which a claimant could be reported.