Welfare cheats pretending to be single parents may face jail time in new crackdown
Thousands of loved up parents pretending to be single for bigger welfare payments could be caught out by tougher testing as part of a government crackdown into welfare cheats.
From September next year mothers and fathers who have separated will have to find a third party to confirm their reports that their relationship is over.
Witnesses caught making a false declaration could be jailed for up to a year.
One woman served two years in prison for falsely claiming around $90,000 in single parent payments.
According to News Corp the Department of Human Services estimate that up to 15,000 people in romantic relationships were incorrectly receiving single-parent payments.
Currently single parents are entitled to a base payment of $264.50 a fortnight, which is significantly higher than parents in recognised relationships.
The difference in payments equates to $6800 a year more.
Currently, Centrelink recognises marriages, same-sex and de facto relationships and customers with multiple partners, however, will only pay the single-parent payment where there has been a “physical as well as an emotional separation”.
According to News Corp the government estimates 7400 parents receiving single-parent benefits will see their benefit reduced.
The publication also states that a further 7400 will have their payments axed under the new crackdown.
Newsbreak – May 14
