Detective work nails benefit fraudsters

More than 44,000 people wrongly claimed $20 million in benefits while holidaying overseas in the past four years, new figures show.

But the number of holidaymakers being caught out is dropping, in part thanks to a data-matching system between the Ministry of Social Development and Customs.

In 2000, beneficiaries claimed more than $8 million while overseas.

That figure fell to $4.5 million in 2001, climbed to $4.9 million in 2002, and dropped to $4.1 million last year, the Press newspaper reported.

Those on the unemployment benefit can sometimes receive the dole if they are overseas for a job interview. Other beneficiaries, including those on the domestic purposes and sickness benefits, are sometimes allowed to be paid for up to four weeks while overseas.

Since 2000, the number of beneficiaries caught each year has more than halved to 7831.

More than 6200 of the beneficiaries caught last year were on the dole, supposedly looking for work.

Ministry spokesman Tony Gavin said early intervention programmes and data analysis meant some beneficiaries could be identified as "at risk" before they left the country.

The decline in beneficiary-holidaymakers could also be attributed to a fall in the number of people receiving benefits, and awareness of data-matching.

But the detective work between Government departments has prompted a warning from Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff.

The number of Government departments with working data-matching programmes has increased from 24 to 28 in the past year, and many more programmes have been authorised this year.

- NZPA