Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 June 2014
268. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline step-by-step the investigation process that is undertaken by her Department when a concerned Irish citizen reports a person they are concerned is committing benefit fraud; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26644/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department receives reports of possible fraud from members of the public in relation to the operation of its schemes. All anonymous or confidential reports are examined and, where the information is relevant, they are referred to scheme areas or Inspectors for follow-up action. While it is important to note that a payment is not suspended or stopped on the basis of an anonymous report, it may “trigger” a review of a customer’s entitlement. Depending on the circumstances of the case, a Social Welfare Inspector may deem it appropriate to carry out a full review of the circumstances and means of the customer. S/he will then submit their report to a Deciding Officer for decision regarding the individual’s on-going entitlement to the social welfare payment.
Anonymous reports are not available to Deciding Officers when they are making their decisions on cases. The Deciding Officer’s decision must be based on the full facts and circumstances of the case and, as a result, statistics are not available on the number of anonymous reports that result in a decision to reduce or terminate an entitlement.
It should be borne in mind that while there is often a perception of fraud in individual cases, when a case is examined the individual may be doing something that is allowed under the rules of the particular payment that they receiving e.g. it is legitimate for someone to be working and receiving a One Parent Family Payment, provided their earnings are within the limits and the Department is aware of the situation.
