More than 70 people a day are getting caught ripping off Australia’s welfare system by falsely claiming to be single in order to receive higher payments.
Over 26,000 dole bludgers have been given $61 million more than they were entitled to get after failing to report their relationships to Centrelink in the past year.
The average debt oed by Australians claiming to be single was $2,343 in 2017-19, up from $1,986 the previous year, The Daily Telegraph reports.
More than 70 Centrelink bludging couples are caught rorting the system every day by lying about their relationship and pretending to be single (stock image)
The government has increased audits to catch out bludgers, combining the Australian Federal Police and Human Services Department’s teams to catch people out.
They are targeting trouble areas around Australia where there is a higher risk of suspected welfare fraud.
Officials have hit the streets to speak to people in the communities, letting people dob in their neighbours who are taking advantage of the system.
The new measures have seen the government claim back more than $2billion since the crackdown began in 2016.
In one major case, a 76-year-old Victorian woman was last month sentenced to almost three years in prison after being convicted of fraudulently claiming $287,000 in benefits, claiming to be single while in a relationship with a man who was worth millions.
Human Services Minister Michael Keenan warned anyone thinking of defrauding welfare that they will face serious consequences.
Human Services Minister Michael Keenan (pictured) warned anyone thinking of defrauding welfare that they will face serious consequences, ‘you could up with a criminal record, or worse, in jail’ he said
‘You are stealing directly from pockets of Australian taxpayers … You also need to know that if we catch you, you will be made to pay the money back and you could also end up with a criminal record, or worse, in jail.’ he said.
He added that the audits had increased five-fold under the Coalition to ensure the cheats were caught.
Failing to report a relationship status is one of the leading causes of welfare debts alongside people incorrectly reporting their income.