False illness benef it claims are sickening

NO-ONE wants genuine welfare claimants to be deprived of their benefits, especially if they are prevented from working by illness or disability. What also is very clear, though, is that a small minority are milking the system and, in the process, making it easier to tar all with the same brush.

A review by doctors working for the Department of Social Protection found that some 2,138 people who claimed sick pay from the State, and in many cases from employers too, were, in fact, perfectly fit and healthy to work.

Another 219 summoned for in-person medical assessment gave up the benefit, clearly because they knew the game was up and a competent doctor would see through them in a second.

The figures cover the period from the start of last year to November this year, and provide a snapshot of the scammers who are depriving people genuinely in need of the resources that should be made available to them. Some 209,384 Illness Benefit claims were received by the department last year, with just over €599million paid out by the State for conditions such as depression, stress, back and neck problems, arthritis, bereavement, post-natal depression, cancer and hypertension.

That is a substantial amount of money and taxpayers are happy to cough up because they, too, might need it someday. Where sympathy ends, though, is when the system is exploited, far too easily in many cases.

It is predictable that liberal Ireland screams victimisation when such reviews are conducted, but it is absolutely correct that the State should be rigorous in investigating all claims. Anyone who is genuinely ill has nothing to fear from being called for assessment; only those conning the taxpayer out of money that would be better spent elsewhere need worry.

GPs, too, need to be more rigorous before signing people off. We know they are under pressure, but not everyone’s word can be taken at face value, and an extra five minutes often would be well spent.

Those who cheat the system should know they are on notice. Their claims will be checked and the cash will be stopped if they are lying.