Abuse of social benefits

M. Mercieca

Oct 5th 2008, 12:46

@ Charles Sammut

‘Where illegal immigrants are concerned, the financial aspect of the problem comes a distant second. It is the social impact that is of utmost concern.’

Okay, money is not the first concern. Indeed, this a very good dose of hope for peoples that are worried abut tax payers money.
Just for the sake of the debate, if we replace the number of illegal immigrants we currently have with LEGAL immigrants. Instead the latter come in boats they will come in private Jets. Instead of coming here ‘taking our jobs’ they will have own investment, would that be okay in terms of the social impact?
If the answer is yes, I would love to know how a legal status of a person influence the social impact. Thank you
Good day

Charles Sammut

Oct 4th 2008, 19:47

@ M Mercieca

Where illegal immigrants are concerned, the financial aspect of the problem comes a distant second. It is the social impact that is of utmost concern.

Regarding Mr Dalli, I have full faith in his ability to tackle the issue and much more as well. In fact I feel that he is underutilised in his present position. But that's politics for you.

J Oatmon

Oct 4th 2008, 19:09

Regarding benefit fraud, the authorities need to understand that people frequently lie, time and again to get their benefits.
It is normal that there are a lot of benefit cheats, when there is a very poor system of checking up on the claims - it is seen as 'free money and I should get my share of it'.
Generally there is also a lot of corruption involved with benefit fraud - the inspectors need inspectors to check on them.

M. Mercieca

Oct 4th 2008, 18:49

@ L Galea
You may have noticed that I don’t cast-assumptions randomly when I talk about immigrants (legal-irregular or illegal). You and others have been quoting how much an irregular immigrant’s coast, sometimes I read each immigrant cost euros 30, euros 40, euros 60 euros, etc. May I ask you two questions please?
Where do you get this prices / information from?
Do you know how much the EU pays Malta in connection with the irregular immigrants?

You may also wrongly have an impression that I defend irregularity or illegality? Well, I am against all types of illegality, or irregularity from any body. My stance, of course includes, corruptions at government department, church, hunting and even single parents.
We both hold different views and this is very healthy indeed. You see the illegal (this you like to call them) is our number one and only problem we have. While I see an issue like the above (Abuse of social benefits), drugs abusers, out of wed-lock kids are much serious.

l Galea

Oct 4th 2008, 15:02

@M. Mercieca
No Mr Mercieca, we also comment and ask the Government to investigate those suspected of abusing our social services, but it seems that you may have some interest by your constant defense of ILLEGAL immigrants.

Are you now denying that the ILLEGAL immigrants are not costing US, Maltese taxpayers millions of euros from our hard-earned heavily-taxed money Mr Mercieca?

M. Mercieca

Oct 4th 2008, 14:43

Where our ‘patriots’ has gone?

Where is the comment we read from All ANTI - IMMIGRANTS parties that continually claims irregular immigrants taking tax payers money’?
Probably they don’t comment since the above abusers are eligible to VOTE while the immigrants an easy escape oat to attack1

carmelo briffa

Oct 4th 2008, 12:25

Believe me or not I know people who claims that they are sick enough to be able to get disability pension when they do not deserve it and not only that, They are also working and recieving money at the same time. How they got the dissability pension was by paying Government employee 500 maltese lira. I personally reported this abuse to the OPM but there was no response or any interest in the same matter. This is Malta mhux xtaf imm lill min taf--ha ha ha ha ha it is better to laugh then cry. Viva PN Gonzi

Paul Barrett

Oct 4th 2008, 12:04

1,444 cases investigated - therefore only 28,666 cases left to be checked out/

The supposed 30,000 mentioned in the electric/water saga may well be reduced to a more reasonable 10,000 which is still a sad number of deserving cases.

Noel Enriquez

Oct 4th 2008, 11:57

This is theft,.. these persons are criminals,.. prosecute them like they do in the UK. In the UK at the moment there is a campaign advertising and warning people that investigators will be looking into every benefit claim, including the uses of cameras. Why not do the same here? Why do I have to fund a life of comodity for somebody that's breaking the law? It is THEFT!

terry ellis-smith

Oct 4th 2008, 10:29

at what cost to the taxpayer? are we talking about pennies or thousands of euro?