More convicted benefit fraudsters

The number of benefit fraudsters in the Bay of Plenty has risen in the last year.

The number of convicted benefit fraudsters in the Bay of Plenty rose 14 per cent last year, figures show.

Statistics New Zealand data showed there were 72 people convicted in Tauranga District Court in 2014 for obtaining a benefit by deception - an increase from the 63 convicted in 2013.

Tauranga Budget Advisory Service manager Diane Bruin told the Bay of Plenty Times the increase was likely to be a result of improved methods of exposing fraudsters.

"It could indicate a lot of things. It might not necessarily indicate an increase in fraud but it might be more that the way they are finding out about these things has become more efficient," she said.

Ms Bruin said benefit fraud was not necessarily connected to hardship.

"It is just people who believe it is something they can get away with. People don't generally commit benefit fraud because they don't have enough money although, for a small number, this may be the case," she said.

"I think, at times, people get into situations they don't know how to get out of. If they have been claiming for something and get comfortable with it, it can be hard to get out of."

In a recent case, Bay of Plenty teacher Natalie Jane Cooper was found guilty of benefit fraud involving more than $16,000 last November.

Cooper pleaded guilty to six charges relating to benefit fraud totalling $16,571 when she appeared in Tauranga District Court and was convicted and sentenced to 200 hours' community service and ordered to pay back the full amount.

Tauranga sickness beneficiary Thomas David Eynon admitted $2023.15 of benefit fraud last July. Eynon, 33, was sentenced in Tauranga District Court after he admitted two charges each of providing misleading information to obtain a benefit and using forged documents.

Associate Minister for Social Development Jo Goodhew said the ministry had stepped up efforts to reduce benefit fraud.

Over the past two-and-a-half years, about 9500 benefits had been cancelled after fraudulent and illegitimate payments were discovered.

"These changes hold people to account for their actions, and make it difficult to defraud the welfare system," she said.

Most of the fraud had been identified through increased information sharing with Inland Revenue - making it easier for the Social Development Ministry to identify clients who under-declared their incomes, which would have affected benefit payments.

Another key initiative was stricter monitoring of clients who had previously committed fraud.

Mrs Goodhew said monitoring was a success and thousands of people were being monitored to ensure they were receiving the correct benefits.

"We've identified around 3000 clients that fall into this category - and it's fantastic to see that, since low-trust case management was introduced in October 2013, as at December 31, 2014, none have reoffended.

"These reforms are about stopping people receiving benefits they aren't entitled to, and ensuring the benefit is available for those that genuinely need it," she said.

"We expect to see fewer cases of benefit fraud as our case officers continue working closely with clients to ensure they declare their income and any changes to their circumstances that may affect their entitlement."