MSD to review how fraud investigated

WELLINGTON: The Ministry of Social Development is reviewing how it investigates the most serious allegations of benefit fraud.

The Privacy Commissioner and beneficiary advocates have raised concerns about the way investigators gather information, saying some of the tactics could breach people’s privacy.

The ministry said in the most serious fraud cases, its investigators would generally go to third parties to get information and documents before telling someone they are being investigated.

The ministry has the power to do this under the Social Security Act.

Deputy chief executive Viv Rickard said the Privacy Commissioner was consulted about it when the practice began in 2012.

‘‘The practice was made public at the time, and was introduced as part of a range of antifraud reforms that were a key focus of the government of the time.

‘‘This change was introduced because approaching people directly for information first was delaying investigations, and only yielded the information requested in 5% of cases.’’

But Ricardo Menendez March from Auckland Action Against Poverty said they have been worried for some time about the practice.

‘‘People only find out they’re being investigated for fraud when an acquaintance or a family member notifies them that somebody from MSD popped by,’’ Mr Menen dez March said.

Those friends and acquaintances were also being asked for very private information.

‘‘It could be about their sex lives or other really sensitive issues,’’ he said.

‘‘It can be really traumatising and lifedestroying for the person being investigated to find out that a government agency has been prying into their sex lives without even letting them know or giving them fair process of natural justice.’’

The ministry said it would work with the Privacy Commissioner and beneficiary advocates on how to balance people’s privacy with its responsibility to investigate benefit fraud allegations. — RNZ