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2.7.4 Fraud
2.7.4.1 — Disability pension may be overpaid due to fraud on the part of the pensioner – i.e. by falsely obtaining pension on the grounds of a disability that is invented or exaggerated.
2.7.4.2 — For example, a person working full-time may be granted DP at the special rate by falsely claiming that he/she is unable to undertake remunerative work for periods aggregating more than 8 hours per week.
2.7.4.3 — A person could fraudulently obtain payment where they are the unintended recipient of that payment e.g. the partner of the intended recipient or a trustee/agent. For example, a pensioner dies but the Department is not informed, and another person continues to knowingly access the pension payments which should have been cancelled following the death of the pensioner.
2.7.4.4 — Decisions regarding recoveries of fraudulently obtained monies should be made only after consulting the Commission approved Selection Criteria for Referral of Overpayment Cases for Investigation Leading to Possible Prosecution Action.
A summary of the selection criteria titled Summary of reasons to consider when submitting a case for possible prosecution can be found at:
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Advice can be sought from the Business Compliance Section. Diane Di Lallo is a key contact and can be reached on extension 36443.