Benefit fraud investigation process and domestic violence.
R Gavey made this Official Information request to Ministry of Social Development
The request was successful.
From: R Gavey
Dear Ministry of Social Development,
I would like to make a request under the Official Information Act 1982 for information relating to the Ministry of Social Development’s benefit fraud investigation process and domestic violence.
More specifically, I would like the following information:
1. I saw that in a previous Ministry of Social Development official information response (dated 8 August 2018), there was an investigation training manual attached – titled “Investigation Unit Training Package” (see: https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-...).
• When was this training manual produced?
• Has it been updated since it was first produced?
• Is it still being used to train the Ministry of Social Development staff and investigators?
• If no, please provide the most recent investigation training manual.
2. Do the Ministry of Social Development benefit fraud investigators receive training on indicators of domestic violence?
• The Work and Income website states, under the section on the Family Violence Intervention Programme (see: https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/provid...): “Our case managers have been trained to identify and respond appropriately to people who are living in or leaving violent family situations.”
• Please provide any relevant training manuals or policy documents.
3. When conducting benefit fraud investigations, are there specific procedures for situations in which there is suspicion of domestic violence?
• Please provide any relevant training manuals or policy documents.
• Does the Ministry of Social Development consider indicators of domestic violence (and coercive control) when making determinations on benefit recipients’ relationship status?
• If so, what role does evidence of domestic violence play in these determinations? e.g. does evidence of coercive control mitigate the existence of a relationship in the nature of a marriage?
Ngā mihi nui,
R Gavey
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
Tēnā koe R Gavey,
Thank you for your email received 11 September 2020, under the Official Information Act 1982. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate officials at National Office to respond. You can expect a decision as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case not later than 20 working days after the day on which the request was received.
Nā mātou noa, nā
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and independent
Ko ta mātou he whakamana tangata kia tū haumaru, kia tū kaha, kia tū motuhake
show quoted sections
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
Tēnā koe R Gavey,
Please find attached a letter advising of the need to extend the time
available to make a decision on your OIA request received 11 September
2020 until 6 November 2020.
Nā mātou noa, nā
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and
Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whānau.
------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
Tçnâ koe R Gavey
On 11 September 2020 you emailed the Ministry requesting, under the
Official Information Act 1982, the following information:
1. I saw that in a previous Ministry of Social Development official
information response (dated 8 August 2018), there was an investigation
training manual attached – titled “Investigation Unit Training Package”
(see:
[1]https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-...).
• When was this training manual produced?
• Has it been updated since it was first produced?
• Is it still being used to train the Ministry of Social Development staff
and investigators?
• If no, please provide the most recent investigation training manual.
2. Do the Ministry of Social Development benefit fraud investigators
receive training on indicators of domestic violence?
• The Work and Income website states, under the section on the Family
Violence Intervention Programme (see:
[2]https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/provid...):
“Our case managers have been trained to identify and respond appropriately
to people who are living in or leaving violent family situations.”
• Please provide any relevant training manuals or policy documents.
3. When conducting benefit fraud investigations, are there specific
procedures for situations in which there is suspicion of domestic
violence?
• Please provide any relevant training manuals or policy documents.
• Does the Ministry of Social Development consider indicators of domestic
violence (and coercive control) when making determinations on benefit
recipients’ relationship status?
• If so, what role does evidence of domestic violence play in these
determinations? e.g. does evidence of coercive control mitigate the
existence of a relationship in the nature of a marriage?
On 8 October 2020, a letter was sent to you to advise you that the
Ministry had received your request, however required more time to respond
to your request. The reason for the extension was that consultations
necessary to make a decision on the request are such that a proper
response to the request cannot reasonably be made within the original time
limit.
The Ministry has decided to grant your request in part. However, it will
take some time to prepare this information for release. The Ministry
intends to send the information to you by 19 November 2020.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
[3][MSD request email].
If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to seek an
investigation and review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a
complaint is available at [4]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.
Nâ mâtou noa, nâ
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and
Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau.
------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-...
2. https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/provid...
3. mailto:[MSD request email]
4. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
From: R Gavey
Dear Official and Parliamentary Information team at the Ministry of Social Development,
Thank you for keeping me updated on the progress of my Official Information Act request submitted on 11 September 2020.
In your most recent email (dated 6 November) you stated that the information will be available by 19 November.
I requested this information to inform a piece of University coursework. This is due on 20 November.
While I understand that the full request cannot necessarily be met before 19 November, I would be grateful to be sent any components of my request that may be ready before this date.
Ngā mini nui,
R Gavey
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
20201113 OIA response letter GAVEY.pdf
2.0M
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20201113 OIA response letter GAVEY 2.pdf
8.2M
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Tçnâ koe R Gavey,
Please find attached the Ministry’s response to your Official Information
Act request.
Due to the size of this response you will receive this in multiple emails.
Nâ mâtou noa, nâ
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and
Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau.
------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
Tçnâ koe R Gavey,
Please find attached the Ministry’s response to your Official Information
Act request.
Due to the size of this response you will receive this in multiple emails.
Nâ mâtou noa, nâ
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and
Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau.
------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
Tçnâ koe R Gavey,
Please find attached the Ministry’s response to your Official Information
Act request.
Due to the size of this response you will receive this in multiple emails.
Nâ mâtou noa, nâ
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and
Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau.
------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
Tçnâ koe R Gavey,
Please find attached the Ministry’s response to your Official Information
Act request.
Due to the size of this response you will receive this in multiple emails.
Nâ mâtou noa, nâ
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and
Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau.
------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
20201113 OIA response letter GAVEY 5.2.pdf
5.4M
Download
View as HTML
20201113 OIA response letter GAVEY 6.pdf
2.7M
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20201113 OIA response letter GAVEY 7.pdf
3.6M
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20201113 OIA response letter GAVEY 8.pdf
2.2M
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20201113 OIA response letter GAVEY 9.pdf
3.4M
Download
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20201113 OIA response letter GAVEY 10.pdf
1.6M
Download
View as HTML
Tçnâ koe R Gavey,
Please find attached the Ministry’s response to your Official Information
Act request.
Due to the size of this response you will receive this in multiple emails.
Nâ mâtou noa, nâ
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and
Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau.
------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------
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