Department to check welfare benefits

Press, 21 October 1980, Page 6

Department to check welfare benefits

PA Wellington Random checks will be made on social welfare beneficiaries from March 1, says the Minister of Social Welfare (Mr Gair). •Those receiving the domesitc purposes, national superannuation, unemployment, and family benefits will be ehcekd and will comprise a “statistically valid sample of 1500 cases each,” he told the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce.

Eighteen more asssesment staff throughout New Zealand had been approved by the Government. They would assess files for their “correctness” and would arrange to interview beneficiaries. Results would be reported, collated and sent to the district staff for “appropriate action.”

Mr Gair said the checks would aim to deter fraud and abuse, discover error, recover or ■ settle overpayments quickly, detect mistakes arising from faulty procedures and decide ow much the department lost through errors. The cases to be checked would be drawn from the payroll each fortnight,

Mr Gair said the checks would not b ean “underhand investigative procedure.”

“There will be no staff dispatched on snooping errands.

“In every case the beneficiary will be interviewed by prior arrangement so changes would not be made without proper reference to the individual who will have the opportunity to discuss his or her circumstances and needs.

■ “The assessment staff will arrange. interviews with the beneficiary at the. local Social Welfare office, or, if more convenient, at home,” he said. All assessment staff would carry identification as officers of the Social Welfare Department, and cases to be examined would not be left to the whim of staff. The department estimated that it lost $400,000 annually because of theft of payment orders sent through, the mail. There had also been reports of people making false or misleading statements to the department, and failing to notify changed circumstances, he said. It was not known how many people abused the system in this way.