A man who was receiving invalidity pension was found by benefit fraud investigators to be working in construction, a report by the Audit Office has revealed.

He claimed that such services were being rendered on a voluntary basis.

In his medical statement to the Department of Social Security, the man had stated that he could not walk for more than five minutes, yet inspectors twice in the same week found him working.

The medical statement also declared that the beneficiary was “...not fit for any kind of employment.”

The auditor said that following the  investigation, the Department of Social Security accepted the Benefit Fraud Unit's recommendation to suspend benefits with effect from the date of inspection.

However, following two other letters forwarded to the department, which did not state anything different from the previous declaration, and provided no additional facts over and above that which was already known, the department decided to revoke its decision and reinstate the suspended benefit payments.

The Benefit Fraud Unit reasserted its stance and submitted correspondence, stating that, “...claimant had been certified as suffering from severe back pain and that he could only walk casually for five minutes or remain standing/sitting for about ten minutes before the onslaught of severe pain hit his back."

The evidence, (which included photographic evidence of the beneficiary clearly carrying out work) was incongruent with the grounds established as to the claimant’s eligibility for Invalidity Pension, the audit office said.

The department still said that its decision to reinstate the benefits was to
stand.

The Audit Office said it was concerned by the  department's decision to reverse its original ruling. Its original decision bore consistency with the evidence made available by the Benefit Fraud Unit.

It therefore disagree with and strongly objected to the  Department’s revised ruling.