Over 16,000 ‘welfare fraud’ tip-offs in 2015

The Department of Social Protection received more than 16,000 anonymous tip-offs from members of the public last year regarding suspected cases of social welfare fraud.

In 11,687 of these cases, a report of suspected fraud was sent to the relevant departmental section for examination as clients were found to be in receipt of more than one payment.

It was not possible to pursue a report in 4,034 cases due to lack of information, the absence of any welfare claim, or the fact that information supplied would not impact on any entitlement.