The amounts detected by the family allowance rose to € 210 million in 2014 through better controls on the RSA and APL. The estimated total fraud remained stable at 1 billion.
After the Urssaf and Medicare, it is the turn of family allowance funds (CAF) to forward record results in the fight against fraud. In 2014, they detected 32,800 cases of fraud to family benefits or housing, or 209.6 million euros. This is 48% more than in 2013. In three years, the amount has doubled; Ten years has multiplied by twenty.
The sagacity of 647 controllers of family allowance is sharpened every year. It must be said that they have more and more tools at their disposal to track down cheaters. They can ask the tax authorities, URSSAF, pension funds, employment center, request bank statements to check the level of income, or go for the electricity or phone directly from the supplier invoices. And controllers talk more. Within departmental operational committees Fraud (CODAF), police officers, tax officials or of the judicial authority are released from their obligation of professional secrecy since 2011 to fight against social fraud.
More precise targeting
The bloodhounds CAF also have access to databases richer: the common national directory protection shows the social rights for both benefits and special situations (disability, unemployment …). As the directory does not include the amounts, CAF agents can complete with career records of the national pension insurance, prior statements to hiring, the national register of bank accounts … Many sources allow, by means of a data processing, better target the home visits. Moreover, controls six in ten (64%) relate to spot-on and result in financial regulation.
The total amount of fraud has however not increased , according to the National Family Allowances Fund (CNAF), which is estimated at about 1 billion euros. The total volume of undue and reminders, which includes € 209 million of detected fraud has meanwhile amounted to 1.11 billion euros in 2014. It often happens that the funds pay too much or not enough money to recipients, because their situation or the law changes. There may also be errors.
In 90% of cases Fraud “survival”
Seven times out of ten (68.55%), scams concern the social minimum, the active solidarity income or disabled adult allowance. Housing benefits are the other major component of fraud (23.17%). The average amount of fraud amounts to 6.386 euros. As for the financial penalty that may pronounce the family allowance fund, in addition to reimbursement of amounts unduly paid, it can be up to 12,680 euros. In case of repetition, it doubles. The amounts recovered in penalties totaled EUR 8.5 million last year. From 25,360 euros of damage, the CAF is bound to bring criminal complaint: there have been 4.104 assignments last year. CNAF, however, that 90% of cases can be assimilated to the “survival”. Fraudsters have so few resources it would be pointless to impose financial penalties
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