Centrelink annual report 1999 – 2000 Contact officer
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- Report to Parliament
- Enhanced Investigation Initiative
- Outposted Centrelink Officers
- Feasibility Studies for Further Data-matching
- Assets Review Pilot
- Pilot of the NSW Missing Persons Unit
- Debt-related Activity
Appendix ixCompliance ActivityThroughout the year a more focused approach to the prevention of fraud and the early detection of incorrect payments to customers has been taken. The establishment of the Centrelink/ATO Special Project Officers, the scope of feasibility studies currently being undertaken, and the extension of our data-matching capability, all contribute to this preventative strategy. During 1999–2000, Centrelink completed 2 288 810 reviews of eligibility and entitlement on behalf of client agencies. These include 2 274 138 reviews of welfare payments for FaCS, and 1409 child care service reviews. A total of 13 263 reviews were conducted for DETYA. As a result of this review activity there were 260 054 instances where incorrect payments were identified. FaCS payments were either reduced or cancelled on 254 634 occasions and reviews of DETYA payments led to rate variations in 5420 cases. Savings to future outlays for FaCS payments totalled $34.7 million a fortnight, and savings of $3.9 million for the year were identified for DETYA payments. During 1999–2000, 338 249 debts were raised as a result of this review activity to the value of $301.9 million. Of these, 331 810 were FaCS debts worth $293.1 million and 6439 were DETYA debts worth $8.8 million. A total of 4023 cases were referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration of prosecution action during 1999–2000, of which 3967 were FaCS cases and 56 were DETYA cases. During 1999–2000, 2964 cases were prosecuted through the courts. Of these, 2935 cases were prosecuted for FaCS fraud with a conviction rate of 98 per cent, and a further 29 cases were prosecuted for DETYA fraud resulting in a conviction rate of 97 per cent. Within these overall figures there were the following highlights: With regard to FaCS payments:
With regard to DETYA payments:
Report to ParliamentThe Minister tables reports in Parliament every six months on review activity undertaken by Centrelink of payments made on behalf of FaCS. This report and the press coverage it receives increases the profile of the control activities being undertaken by Centrelink. This in turn helps ensure that FaCS payments are only received by those who are entitled to them. In line with the deterrence provisions of the Fraud Control Policy of the Commonwealth, giving publicity to court cases of welfare fraud is also designed to create public recognition of the risks and penalties involved in attempting to defraud the system and to encourage voluntary compliance. Enhanced Investigation InitiativeFollowing a national tender process, Centrelink contracted 21 companies to provide surveillance services on its behalf. Stringent privacy and security safeguards are in place to protect the information passed to companies during the period of the review. Probity checks were also made of the companies and their operatives. In July 1999 Centrelink sent the first cases to the service providers. To the end of June 2000, a total of 1446 cases were referred to providers. Of these, 1063 have been finalised resulting in a debt or reduction in payment to 747 cases. Savings to future outlays as a result of cancellation or reduction of payments total $4.2 million. Debts of $4 million have been identified for recovery action. The initiative has a successful outcome in 70 per cent of cases and has a cost benefit ratio of 1:5. The Enhanced Investigation Initiative has proven itself to be a success in providing evidence of fraudulent activity, which would not have been collected if traditional investigation methods had been used. It has proven that by using the evidence gathering power of this initiative, inroads can be made into areas of welfare fraud, such as those associated with the cash economy. The publicity associated with this initiative encourages voluntary compliance and further enhances the integrity of the welfare system. Outposted Centrelink OfficersIn 1999–2000 funding was provided to support 23 full-time Centrelink/ATO Special Project Officers within the ATO’s Branch Office structure. This initiative is designed to maximise the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in terms of both program savings to Centrelink and debt prevention activity. The role of these officers is to assess information about Centrelink customers that would otherwise not be gained and, from this, to identify customers who may not be receiving their correct entitlement. Information exchange is conducted with full regard for the legislative provisions in place in both organisations including the Privacy Act 1988. The Centrelink officers have established a working relationship with ATO field audit and intelligence teams focusing on designated cash economy activities. The officers also undertake community activities in association with ATO staff in order to identify non-compliance and encourage voluntary compliance. The project has proved a success with savings and debts of $6.7 million identified.
Customers across all Centrelink payment types were matched. The feasibility studies have confirmed the suitability of data to match with these agencies. The studies have also identified additional share registry data sources separate to the Australian Stock Exchange as well as more centralized superannuation information which is held by the ATO. An evaluation of both studies will be prepared early in 2000–01. Assets Review PilotCentrelink undertook a pilot focusing on undisclosed assets. The pilot was based on data-matching information with the ATO and identified anomalies between details of properties advised to Centrelink and those advised to the ATO. The pilot has addressed a risk that Centrelink customers may not be fully disclosing assets which may affect their entitlement. Specialist teams have been established in Brisbane and Adelaide to investigate these reviews. The pilot identified $1.4 million in debts and savings to outlays.
The national pilot covered approximately 1500 persons and Centrelink was able to trace 10 per cent of these people—a successful outcome. Some missing persons records date back to the 1940s. Previously, searches of Centrelink customer records were conducted on a manual basis for each missing person. This was seen to be a cumbersome process and a more efficient method was needed. The Detection and Review Team conducted a trial electronic search using its data-matching facilities and the concept proved to be both efficient and effective. As a result of this success the National Missing Persons Unit asked Centrelink if it could conduct a regular electronic search for long-term cases. The concept of an electronic national search was put to and accepted by the National Police Consultative Group. The pilot has since been extended to all State and Territory Police Missing Persons Units and in May 2000 a data-match was conducted on their behalf. The matched results have been returned to the relevant Missing Persons Units where the cases will be followed up.
Debt Identification, Raising and RecoveryDuring 1999–2000, 1 462 129 debts were raised with the value of $794.6 million. Of these, 1 440 326 were FaCS debts worth $778.34 million (including compensation matters). A total of 15 219 were DETYA debts worth $13.39 million while an additional 6584 debts worth $2.87 million were raised on behalf of other government agencies. Refunds/repayments to Centrelink for 1999–2000 totalled $653.97 million. Of this, $640.99 million was recovered against FaCS debts. An additional $2.14 million was recovered on behalf of other government agencies and $10.84 million was recovered against DETYA debts. Centrelink recovered a total of $119.78 million under the compensation recovery provisions of the Social Security Act 1991 (included in the $640.99 million figure above).
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