http___www.welfare.ie_ga_Pages_Control-Measures.aspx_1.xml
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Measures to control fraud and abuse include desk reviews of claim papers, home visits, the issue of mail-shots to selected customers, database checking, medical reviews in the case of illness payments. Controls are exercised at both the initial claim stage and at subsequent stages during the claim life cycle. Claims are reviewed on a regular and targeted basis. Means tested payments are reviewed at certain intervals or when there are indications that changes in circumstances have not been reported to the Department. Those in receipt of illness payments are called for a medical examination by the Department's medical assessors. Customers in receipt of unemployment payments are checked on an ongoing basis to verify continued compliance with such requirements as being available for and genuinely seeking employment. The Social Welfare Act, 2010 provided "penalty rates of payment" or a reduction in Jobseeker's Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance and Supplementary Welfare Allowance where a person has, without good cause: - refused to participate or to agree to participate in a course of training which is considered appropriate; or - failed to avail of any reasonable offer of training provided or approved of by FAS; or - refused or failed to avail of an opportunity of participating in the National Employment Action Plan, a programme administered by FAS. These measures are being invoked since early in 2011. Activation measures: In addition to control measures, the Department seeks to activate customers off social welfare dependency by way of a range of measures and options. For example, the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance is designed to encourage the long-term unemployed on a social welfare payment to develop a business while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their qualifying social welfare payment, plus they may retain secondary benefits, over two years. The Back to Education Allowance is a scheme which encourages and facilitates people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force. Under the employer job PRSI incentive scheme, if an employer takes on an additional member of staff, who had been unemployed for 6 months or more, s/he would be exempt from paying employers' PRSI for 12 months, provided the job is new and additional, for at least 30 hours a week and to last for at least six months. The Employment Action Plan (EAP), operated jointly by the Department of Social Protection and FAS, is the main welfare to work measure under which all persons between the ages of 18 and 65 years who are approaching 3 months on the Live Register are identified by the Department and referred to FAS for interview with a view to assisting them to enter/ re-enter the labour market. The EAP process complements the Department's control processes in that recipients of Jobseeker payments who refuse or fail to attend for interview have their entitlement to benefit reviewed. Recent legislation, as outlined above, specifies that recipients of Jobseeker payments who, without good cause, refuse to participate in a course of training or other interventions arranged by DSP/FAS will have their payments reduced. These measures will have the advantage of keeping unemployed persons close to the labour market, as well as reinforcing existing control activity. Control Actions: To address the prevention and detection of social welfare fraud the following actions will be undertaken: - Reviews of entitlement: These will be systematically undertaken across all social welfare schemes having regard to the level of fraud risk associated with each scheme. The emphasis will be on targeting home visits by investigators and comprehensive face-to-face interviews of persons suspected of fraudulent activity. - Identity and Payment Checks: Claimants for Jobseeker's payments are now exclusively paid through post offices. This requires them to attend the post office each week thus confirming their residency in the country. Photographic identification is also required when collecting payments at the post office. - Direct Mailshots: The Department will supplement reviews of entitlement by the frequent use of direct mailshots to validate with customers that the conditions for receipt of benefits, allowances and child related payments are met. In addition they will also serve to heighten fraud awareness. In instances where the customer fails to respond, payments will be suspended or forwarded for investigation. - Medical Eligibility Assessments: In the case of persons receiving illness and disability payments, recipients will be reviewed on a systematic basis through personal medical assessments and case reviews to ensure that the medical aspect of their entitlement is still fulfilled. - Non-Residency: Residency checks on social welfare claims will be systematically undertaken nationwide by Departmental Inspectors in order to determine whether residency status is fulfilled. - Reporting of Social Welfare Fraud: Good citizen reports of suspected fraudulent social welfare claims can be made by calling (01) 704 3000 and asking for Central Control Section. Alternatively, there is an on-line facility for members of the public to report their suspicions of social welfare fraud on www.welfare.ie. Members of the public are asked to provide as much detail about the case they are reporting as possible and with these facilities they can do so totally anonymously. - Data Matching: The Department has, in the last number of years, been engaged in comprehensive data matching with other Government Departments and public bodies for fraud control purposes. Data matching is viewed as a very efficient and effective mechanism to target control-related activity. The Department will continue to proactively match data with agencies and enhance the range of data it uses to uncover and detect social welfare fraud. Examples of data matching to date for control purposes include: Prison Service, commencement of employment notifications and earnings data from Revenue, Third Level College students and the Commission on Taxi Regulation. - Fraud and Error Surveys: Fraud and error surveys are an integral part of the Department's Control Plan. Fraud and error surveys provide the Department with an indicator of the estimated risk of the schemes surveyed to enable the Department to enhance procedures and processes to build control across the relevant schemes. The Department will establish the risk and exposure of fraud and error within its schemes by conducting fraud and error surveys at regular intervals. - Employer Inspections: The Department will undertake a programme of employer inspections to ensure that accurate records of employees are kept; the correct class of PRSI is being deducted and remitted, employees are not concurrently working and claiming social welfare payments. In addition, they ensure that employers are aware of their responsibilities with regard to social welfare and tax legislation and incentives available to employers. There will be a re-emphasis towards on site inspections to increase a visible Departmental presence across those sectors of the economy where social welfare fraud is prevalent. - Activation & Control Teams: As part of this plan and in order to ensure an integrated approach to fraud control, Activation & Control Teams will be established across the Department's Regional network in each Local Office area. These control teams will be comprised of Social Welfare Inspectors, Special Investigation Unit staff, Community Welfare Officers, FAS and Social Welfare Local Office staff. They will help to ensure that all control activities, established and new, are being vigorously applied and augment them with targeted specific approaches based on local knowledge and circumstances.
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Ar �ireamh i mbearta chun calaois agus m�-�s�id a rial� t� athbhreithnithe deisce ar ph�ip�ir �ilimh, cuairteanna baile, cor poist chuig custaim�ir� roghnaithe, seice�lacha ar an mbunachar sonra�, athbhreithni� docht�ra i gc�s �oca�ochta� breoiteachta. Cuirtear rial� i bhfeidhm ag c�im thosaigh an �ilimh agus ag c�imeanna eile le linn shaolr� an �ilimh, leis. D�antar athbhreithni� rialta spriocaimsithe ar �ilimh. D�antar athbhreithni� rialta ar �oca�ochta� faoi r�ir th�st�il maoine n� i gc�sanna ina ndealra�onn s� n�r tuairisc�odh athruithe ar ch�ins� don Roinn. Glaoitear ar dhaoine at� ag f�il �oca�ochta� breoiteachta chun dul faoi scr�d� docht�ra le lia-mheas�n�ir� na Roinne. Custaim�ir� at� ag f�il �oca�ochta� d�fhosta�ochta, seice�ltar go reatha go bhfuil na riachtanais maidir le bheith ar f�il chun oibre agus bheith ag lorg oibre i nd�ir�re � gcomhl�onadh i gc�na�. For�iltear san Acht Leasa Sh�isialaigh, 2010, le haghaidh �r�ta� �oca�ochta pion�is� n� laghd� i Sochar Cuardaitheora Poist, i Li�ntas Cuardaitheora Poist agus sa Li�ntas Leasa Forl�ontach sna c�sanna seo a leanas: - c�s ina ndi�lta�onn duine, gan c�is mhaith, bheith rannph�irteach n� aont� a bheith rannph�irteach i gc�rsa oili�na a mheastar a bheith oiri�nach; n� - c�s inar theip ar dhuine glacadh le haon tairiscint r�as�nta oili�na arna sol�thar n� arna cead� ag F�S; n� - c�s ina ndi�lta�onn duine glacadh le deis chun bheith rannph�irteach sa Phlean Gn�omha�ochta N�isi�nta um Fhosta�ocht, cl�r arna riar ag F�S. T� na bearta sin � n-agairt � th�s na bliana 2011. Bearta gn�omhacht�ch�in: Le cois na mbeart rial�ch�in, f�achann an Roinn le custaim�ir� a ghn�omhacht� chun an c�ras leasa sh�isialaigh a fh�g�il tr� raon beart agus roghanna a chur ar f�il d�ibh. Mar shampla dearadh an Li�ntas um Fhilleadh ar an Obair chun daoine at� d�fhostaithe le tr�imhse fhada agus ag f�il �oca�ochta leasa sh�isialaigh a mhisni� chun gn� a fhorbairt agus c�atad�n d� n-�oca�ocht leasa sh�isialaigh � choime�d acu, c�atad�n a laghda�tear de r�ir a ch�ile, mar aon le sochair th�naisteacha, go ceann tr�imhse dh� bhliain. Sc�im is ea an Li�ntas um Fhilleadh ar an Oideachas a mhisn�onn agus a �asca�onn daoine at� ag f�il �oca�ochta� �irithe leasa sh�isialaigh chun cur lena gcuid scileanna agus c�il�ochta� agus mar sin feabhas a chur lena n-ionchais d�fhilleadh ar an margadh saothair. Faoin sc�im dreasachta �SPC d'fhost�ir�, m� fhosta�onn fost�ir ball foirne breise a bh� d�fhostaithe le s� mh� n� n�os m�, n� bheidh air/uirthi �SPC an fhost�ra a �oc ar son an fhosta� sin ar feadh 12 mh�, ar choinn�oll gur post nua breise � ar feadh 30 uair an chloig sa tseachtain ar a laghad agus a mhairfidh s� mh� ar a laghad. Is � an Plean Gn�omha�ochta N�isi�nta um Fhosta�ocht, a oibr�onn an Roinn Coimirce S�isiala� agus F�S i dteannta a ch�ile, an pr�omhbheart chun daoine a bhogadh �n gc�ras leasa go dt� an obair. Faoin bPlean sin sainaithn�onn an Roinn gach duine idir aois a 18 agus a 65 at� ar an mBeochl�r agus cuirtear ar aghaidh chuig F�S iad lena gcur faoi agallamh chun cuidi� leo dul isteach den ch�ad uair n� filleadh ar an margadh saothair. Comhl�n� is ea an Plean Gn�omha�ochta N�isi�nta um Fhosta�ocht ar phr�isis rial�ch�in na Roinne sa mh�id is go nd�antar athbhreithni� ar theidl�ocht chun sochair i gc�s daoine a dhi�lta�onn teacht chun agallaimh n� a dteipeann orthu teacht chun agallaimh. Sonra�tear i reachta�ocht a achta�odh le deireanas, mar at� leagtha amach thuas, go laghd�far �oca�ochta� daoine at� ag f�il �oca�ochta� cuardaitheora poist agus a dhi�lta�onn, gan c�is mhaith, bheith p�irteach i gc�rsa oili�na n� in idirghabh�il eile arna eagr� ag an RCS / F�S. Beidh s� de bhunt�iste ag na bearta sin daoine d�fhostaithe a choime�d gar don mhargadh saothair, chomh maith le gn�omha�ocht rial�ch�in at� i bhfeidhm faoi l�thair a athneart�. Gn�omhartha Rial�ch�in: Seo mar a dh�anfar chun calaois leasa sh�isialaigh a chosc agus a bhrath: Athbhreithni� ar theidl�ocht: D�anfar athbhreithni� c�rasach ar gach sc�im leasa sh�isialaigh f�achaint c�ard � an riosca calaoise a ghabhann le gach sc�im d�obh. D�reofar ar chuairteanna baile � chigir� agus ar agallaimh chuimsitheacha duine le duine a chur ar dhaoine a mheastar a bhfuil gn�omha�ocht chalaoiseach ar si�l acu. Aitheantas agus �oca�ochta� a Sheice�il: Is tr� oifig� poist amh�in a �octar lucht cuardaitheora poist anois. Cialla�onn s� sin nach m�r d�ibh teacht go dt� oifig an phoist gach seachtain, rud a chrutha�onn go bhfuil c�na� orthu sa t�r. B�onn g� le haitheantas grianghrafach leis chun �oca�ocht a bhaili� ag oifig an phoist. Coir Phoist Dh�reacha: I dteannta athbhreithni� a dh�anamh ar theidl�ocht, bainfear �s�id rialta as cor poist chuig custaim�ir� chun a fh�il amach an bhfuil na coinn�ollacha maidir le sochair, li�ntais agus �oca�ochta� linbh � gcomhl�onadh. Toradh eile a bheidh ar choir phoist n� feasacht a mh�ad� ar chalaois. I gc�sanna nach bhfaightear freagra � chustaim�ir, cuirfear �oca�ochta� ar fionra� n� cuirfear an c�s ar aghaidh lena ini�chadh. Meas�nachta� ar Ch�ilitheacht d��oca�ochta� Breoiteachta: I gc�s daoine at� ag f�il �oca�ochta� breoiteachta agus m�chumais, iarrfar ar dhocht�ir� a gc�s si�d a athbhreithni� ar bhonn c�rasach chun a chinnti� go bhfuil siad f�s i dteideal na n-�oca�ochta� sin. Neamhch�na�: D�anfaidh Cigir� na Roinne seice�lacha ar fud na t�re ar bhonn c�rasach f�achaint an bhfuil an coinn�oll maidir le gn�thch�na� � chomhl�onadh i gc�s daoine at� ag �ileamh �oca�ochta� leasa sh�isialaigh. Tuairisci� Chalaois Leasa Sh�isialaigh: Is f�idir tuairisc� dea-shaor�naigh d��ilimh chalaoiseacha leasa sh�isialaigh a dh�anamh ach glao a chur ar (01) 704 3000 agus an Rann�g um Rial� L�rnach a lorg. De rogha air sin, is f�idir le baill den phobal �dar amhrais mar gheall ar �oca�ocht leasa sh�isialaigh a thuairisci� ar l�ne ag www.welfare.ie. Iarrtar ar bhaill den phobal a mh�ad sonra� is f�idir a thabhairt faoin gc�s at� � thuairisci� agus is f�idir leo � sin a dh�anamh gan a n-ainmneacha f�in a thabhairt. Meaitse�il Sonra�: T� meaitse�il sonra� ar si�l ag an Roinn le Ranna Rialtais agus le comhlachta� st�it eile le roinnt blianta anuas chun calaois a rial�. F�achtar ar mheaitse�il sonra� mar bhealach �ifeachtach chun gn�omha�ocht a bhaineann le rial� a spriocdh�ri�. Leanfaidh an Roinn de bheith ag meaitse�il sonra� go r�amhghn�omhach le gn�omhaireachta� agus ag cur leis an raon sonra� a �s�idtear chun calaois leasa sh�isialaigh a bhrath. Ar na cine�lacha sonra� a �s�ideadh go dt� seo chun cr�ocha rial�ch�in t�: sonra� �n tSeirbh�s Pr�os�in, f�gra� maidir le t�s fosta�ochta agus sonra� tuillimh � na Coimisin�ir� Ioncaim, eolas mar gheall ar mhic l�inn i gcol�ist� tri� leibh�il agus sonra� �n gCoimisi�n um Rial�il Tacsaithe. Suirbh�anna ar Chalaois agus ar Earr�id�: Cuid dh�lis de phlean rial�ch�in na Roinne is ea suirbh�anna ar chalaois agus ar earr�id�. Sol�thra�onn suirbh�anna den chine�l sin t�scaire don Roinn den riosca measta a ghabhann le sc�imeanna ar leith le gur f�idir leis an Roinn cur leis na n�sanna imeachta agus na pr�isis rial�ch�in sna sc�imeanna sin. Is tr� shuirbh�anna ar chalaois agus ar earr�id� a dh�anamh go tr�thrialta a gheobhaidh an Roinn amach c�n riosca agus c�n nochtadh do chalaois agus d�earr�id at� i gceist ina cuid sc�imeanna Ini�chta� ar Fhost�ir�: Cuirfidh an Roinn t�s le cl�r d�ini�chta� ar fhost�ir� chun a chinnti� go gcoime�dtar taifid chruinne maidir le fostaithe, go n-asbhaintear an aicme cheart d��SPC agus go gcuirtear ar aghaidh go dt� na Coimisin�ir� Ioncaim �, agus nach mb�onn fostaithe ag obair agus ag �ileamh �oca�ochta� leasa sh�isialaigh ag an am c�anna. Lena chois sin, cinnteoidh siad go bhfuil fost�ir� ar an eolas maidir leis na freagrachta� at� orthu maidir leis an reachta�ocht leasa sh�isialaigh agus an reachta�ocht c�nach agus maidir le dreasachta� at� ar f�il d'fhost�ir�. D�reofar an athuair ar chigireachta� ar an l�thair chun go mbeidh foireann na Roinne n�os sofheicthe i ngach earn�il den gheilleagar ina meastar go bhfuil calaois leasa sh�isialaigh ar si�l. Foirne Gn�omhacht�ch�in & Rialaithe: Bun�far Foirne Gn�omhacht�ch�in & Rialaithe ar fud l�onra r�igi�nach na Roinne i ngach ceantar Oifig �iti�il mar chuid den phlean seo chun cur chuige comhth�ite i leith rial� calaoise a chinnti�. Ar na foirne rialaithe sin beidh Cigir� Leasa Sh�isialaigh, baill foirne �n Aonad Imscr�daithe Speisialta, Oifigigh Leasa Sh�isialaigh, baill foirne � F�S agus � Oifig� �iti�la Leasa Sh�isialaigh. Cabhr�idh s� sin chun a chinnti� go gcuirtear gach beart rial�ch�in, idir bhearta a bh� ann go dt� seo agus bhearta nua, i bhfeidhm ina n-ioml�ine agus go mbeidh cine�lacha cur chuige bunaithe ar eolas agus ar ch�ins� �iti�la mar fhorl�onadh orthu.