Preventing repeat benefit fraud

The Herald reports:

New measures to crack down on beneficiaries who have previously cheated the system will begin tomorrow.

The ‘low trust client’ rules are aimed at preventing those with a history of benefit fraud from repeated the abuse.

It will apply to people who have been convicted of welfare fraud in the past or had overpayments established following a fraud investigation.

The new law will apply to an estimated 1500 per year, the Government says.

“These people have proven, through their own actions, that they are willing to be dishonest with the welfare system and take money they are not entitled to,” said associate social development minister Chester Borrows.

“With these new measures we will have sensible steps to prevent them repeating this behaviour, such as requiring them to deal face-to-face with a single case manager.”

As with many of the changes in this area, it sounds very sensible and somewhat overdue.