The Department of Human Services has been able to identify more than $100 million worth of fraudulent welfare claims since 2013 thanks to tip-offs from the public.
Releasing the statistic, the Minister for Human Services, Michael Keenan said the willingness of people to report those doing wrong demonstrated the high-level of community support for efforts to crackdown on fraud and maintain the viability of the welfare system.
“So far this financial year, the Department of Human Services has received nearly 80,000 tip-offs, or about 2,000 a week, resulting in more than $18 million in debts being raised,” Mr Keenan said.
“Since 2013, more than 400 tip-off cases had been referred to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
“About 70 of these were from this financial year.”
He said that in one case, a Queensland resident who used multiple identities to fraudulently obtain welfare benefits was ordered to repay more than $160,000 after being convicted of fraud by the courts.
“In Tasmania, a person was jailed after being found to have falsely claimed $150,000 in single parent benefits when they were actually married,” Mr Keenan said.
“A range of recent compliance efforts have resulted in more than $1.5 billion in overpayments being identified which now have to be paid back.”
He said every tip-off was taken seriously, and he thanked those members of the community who were helping to ensure the welfare system remained strong.
He said anyone wishing to report welfare fraud or find out more about the process could visit the Departmnet at humanservices.gov/fraud or call the fraud tip-off line 131 524.
