Criminal law - Centrelink Fraud

Centrelink fraud has become rife in the last few years and Centrelink investigators have become more and more ardent at uncovering this. There is a deliberate attempt to rip-off the system and today’s sentencing shows how harshly welfare cheats can expect to be treated by the courts. 

Centrelink has a specialist Fraud Investigation Teams that use highly developed purpose-built computer matching programs, and data matching and advanced techniques to indentify and counter sophisticated identity fraud attempts. If you have been charged with these types of offences, treat the matter as serious and come in and make an appointment to see us ASAP.

In 2008, a 65-year-old woman who used a false identity to steal more than $100,000 in Centrelink payments had been sentenced to 24 months in prison in Sydney.

The District Court heard the woman, from Sydney’s inner-west, received a Widow Allowance and Age Pension in her real name between December 1998 and February 2007. During this time, she was also working under a false identity.

The woman, who pleaded guilty, received more than $102,700 in welfare payments she wasn’t entitled to and will be eligible for parole after serving nine months in prison. She was also ordered by the court to repay Centrelink the remaining amount she owes - $ 99,870.

There are some situations that may result in an incorrect payment or fraud being committed. These include:

• working and getting a payment from Centrelink
• getting income from a source other than working
• living with someone while claiming to live alone
• getting a payment from Centrelink for children not in your care
• getting a payment from Centrelink while no longer studying
• using more than one name to get payments from Centrelink
• getting more than one payment from Centrelink
• getting Rent Assistance when you are not paying rent
• Child Care Centres getting incorrect payments from Centrelink.

Cases of welfare fraud in NSW also had a strong conviction rate. Of the 941 cases appearing in court, 909 resulted in convictions - a conviction rate of 96.6 per cent. Don’t become a statistic. If you have been charged, come in and speak to me immediately!