“Rather fail with honour than succeed by fraud.” – Sophocles
They say a picture paints a thousand words and finally the government are going to insist people have to show theirs.
Photo ID is to be required in future for collecting welfare payments at Post Offices. We all know it exists, I’m sure there have been many people that have gone to one post office as Joe Bloggs to collect their dole and later that day gone to another under Fred Bloggs without the two being linked.
The Department of Social & Family Affairs have said that 10% of Social Welfare claimants investigated in a targeted spot check have had their payments suspended. It does show what desperate times can force people into.
It can never be right that the majority of us will have to work hard for at least 40 hours a week for our salary while others steal because that’s what dole fraud is. Some are happy to not have to work and do as little as possible, the desire to look for work lessens because they know they will be getting money every week, albeit a reduced sum.
I used to work in a bookmakers and saw many a dole payment lost in the “big race” every day. It was a sad sight to see people chasing their tails.
I am not one to agree with the current Ministers but Ms Hanafin did speak the truth when she said, ‘People legitimately collecting a social welfare payment should be able to produce valid photographic ID, such as a Driving Licence, Passport or National Identity card. Staff working in Post Offices have to be satisfied that they are giving the right payment to the right person,’
I hope this is the first of many gestures to show that the Government wants to get their act together. A need to stop losing money is always a good reason to plug the leaks, but I hope by doing so they can shape up and stop having such a carefree attitude.
Monday, April 6th, 2009 and is filed under Thoughts & Questions, Views on News.
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