DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Caring for the poor? This is what will happen if you pander to the needs of losers.

**Peptobismol** · 02-19-2012, 08:39 AM

ALMOST 29,000 SA welfare recipients have been caught ripping off taxpayers by more than $2.7 million a week.

Centrelink figures, released to The Advertiser, show 28,923 South Australians had their benefits payments cancelled or reduced last financial year.

Reviews, including matching data with other agencies, random checks, federal police investigations and tip-offs from the public, uncovered the discrepancies.

Despite the figures, South Australian Council of Social Service executive director Ross Womersley said "the great majority" of people did not rort the system.

"We don't want anybody in a position where they are taking advantage of something that is there to protect the interests of people who are genuinely needy," he said.

Mr Womersley said the "complicated" welfare system didn't make it any easier for people to process their information and payments.

"There is no doubt we would encourage changes that would minimise the complexity so that people were not put off (by it)," he said.

Tip-offs uncovered 438 people illegally claiming benefits last financial year and contributed about $77,000 to the weekly savings.
The savings dropped from the 2009-10 financial year, when an average $3.3 million a week was deducted from Centrelink customers and more than 46,000 people had welfare payments reduced.

Centrelink reviews reduced dramatically in 2010-11 to just over 191,000 compared to more than 298,000 the previous year.
A Department of Human Services spokeswoman said fewer clients were reviewed last financial year because most staff were assisting with disaster-relief payments.

"Customers most at risk of an incorrect claim were still selected for review activity," she said.

Most reviews led to reductions in payments and 5451 people had welfare entitlements cancelled.

The Centrelink spokeswoman said most customers receiving overpayments had made genuine mistakes or had delayed notifying the agency of changes to their living or working arrangements.

"In a small number of cases, customers may deliberately misrepresent their circumstances in order to receive welfare payments to which they are not entitled," she said.

02-19-2012, 08:39 AM	#3
Peptobismol Join Date Oct 2005 Age 58 Posts 4,386 Senior Member	ALMOST 29,000 SA welfare recipients have been caught ripping off taxpayers by more than $2.7 million a week. Centrelink figures, released to The Advertiser, show 28,923 South Australians had their benefits payments cancelled or reduced last financial year. Reviews, including matching data with other agencies, random checks, federal police investigations and tip-offs from the public, uncovered the discrepancies. Despite the figures, South Australian Council of Social Service executive director Ross Womersley said "the great majority" of people did not rort the system. "We don't want anybody in a position where they are taking advantage of something that is there to protect the interests of people who are genuinely needy," he said. Mr Womersley said the "complicated" welfare system didn't make it any easier for people to process their information and payments. "There is no doubt we would encourage changes that would minimise the complexity so that people were not put off (by it)," he said. Tip-offs uncovered 438 people illegally claiming benefits last financial year and contributed about $77,000 to the weekly savings. The savings dropped from the 2009-10 financial year, when an average $3.3 million a week was deducted from Centrelink customers and more than 46,000 people had welfare payments reduced. Centrelink reviews reduced dramatically in 2010-11 to just over 191,000 compared to more than 298,000 the previous year. A Department of Human Services spokeswoman said fewer clients were reviewed last financial year because most staff were assisting with disaster-relief payments. "Customers most at risk of an incorrect claim were still selected for review activity," she said. Most reviews led to reductions in payments and 5451 people had welfare entitlements cancelled. The Centrelink spokeswoman said most customers receiving overpayments had made genuine mistakes or had delayed notifying the agency of changes to their living or working arrangements. "In a small number of cases, customers may deliberately misrepresent their circumstances in order to receive welfare payments to which they are not entitled," she said.
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