The sneaky way "cheating couples" are rorting Centrelink
More than 70 Aussies are getting caught ripping off the welfare system each day by falsely claiming to be single in order to receive higher payments.
In the past year, over 26,000 Centrelink recipients have been given $61 million more than what they were entitled to after lying about their relationship status.
In 2017/18, the average debt owed by Australians in relationships who had claimed to be single was $2342, increasing from $1986 the year prior.
People failing to declare that they were in a relationship was one of the leading causes of welfare debt, as well as recipients incorrectly reporting their income.
However, highly trained fraud officers have taken back more than $2 billion from welfare cheats since the government’s crackdown began in 2016, reported The Daily Telegraph.
Human Services Minister Michael Keenan recently warned dole bludgers about the consequences of defrauding the system.
He said that offenders could face jail time as the government continues to increase the number of audits on welfare recipients.
“Stealing from the welfare system is not a victimless crime,” Mr Keenan said.
“You are stealing directly from pockets of Australian taxpayers … You also need to know that if we catch you, you will be made to pay the money back and you could also end up with a criminal record, or worse, in jail.”
Taskforce Integrity, which combines the efforts of the Australian Federal Police and Human Services Department, is targeting geographic areas around the country where there is a higher risk of suspected welfare fraud.