Tēnā koe Shan,

 

Thank you for your query.

 

In 2020 many benefit fraud cases were paused to focus resources on wage
subsidy investigations, except where benefit fraud investigations and
prosecutions were at critical stages. However, the Ministry of Social
Development (the Ministry) continued to follow up benefit fraud
allegations through non-investigative responses, early intervention and
facilitation, as resources allowed.

 

Since early 2021, the Ministry has been transitioning staff back to
benefit investigations as wage subsidy integrity work and investigations
are concluded. This includes reassessing those benefit investigations that
were paused so that they can be progressed.

 

With each new wage subsidy, however, the Ministry had to temporarily shift
resources to support pre-payment wage subsidy integrity checks and reviews
to help ensure these payments were made quickly and to those that were
eligible.

 

As standard practice, the Ministry continually reassesses and
reprioritises work to ensure that our investigative resources are
allocated to the highest priority cases. The Ministry continues to recruit
additional Investigator resources to support ongoing demands due to
COVID-19. Additional Investigators have been recruited, with further
recruitment underway.

 

Although we appreciate your bringing a case of possible benefit fraud to
our attention, please note that we are unable to share the findings of a
benefit investigation with you. The Ministry takes the right to privacy of
its clients seriously.

 

Ngā manaakitanga,

Info@msd

 

------------------------------- 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.
-------------------------------

Tēnā koe Shan,

Thank you for your email received 25 August 2022, under the Official Information Act 1982. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate officials at National Office to respond. 

Ngā manaakitanga,

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Shan <[FOI #19842 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 25 August 2022 4:29 pm
To: Info (MSD) <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your query

Dear Info (MSD),

Thank you for helping me understand the delay more.

Questions:

1. How long is the average time for an investigation to start after the initial report/allegation?

2. How long does the average investigation take?

3. How thorough are the investigations? The person/people I reported was very careful and have made it very hard to link them to their work. I’m only aware of their circumstances because they have bragged about it otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have known.

4. Are the investigations prioritised in order of when they were reported? If not, how are the prioritised?

5. Is it possible for to assist in an investigation without being employed under MSD? And if that is not possible, how do I go about applying for a position as an investigator? This may sound strange but I feel very strongly about benefit fraud and would like to help out where I can - even if it is voluntary work

Yours sincerely,

Shan

-------------------------------
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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Kia ora Shan,

I am writing to you regarding your request for information below. This letter is to advise you that the Ministry has received your request, however requires more time to respond to this request. In accordance with section 15(1) and 15A of the Official Information Act, the Ministry’s decision will be with you no later than 13 October 2022.

The reason for the extension is 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.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please feel free to contact [MSD request email]

I will respond to you sooner if I am able to.

Ngā mihi,

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Shan <[FOI #19842 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 25 August 2022 4:29 pm
To: Info (MSD) <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your query

Dear Info (MSD),

Thank you for helping me understand the delay more.

Questions:

1. How long is the average time for an investigation to start after the initial report/allegation?

2. How long does the average investigation take?

3. How thorough are the investigations? The person/people I reported was very careful and have made it very hard to link them to their work. I’m only aware of their circumstances because they have bragged about it otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have known.

4. Are the investigations prioritised in order of when they were reported? If not, how are the prioritised?

5. Is it possible for to assist in an investigation without being employed under MSD? And if that is not possible, how do I go about applying for a position as an investigator? This may sound strange but I feel very strongly about benefit fraud and would like to help out where I can - even if it is voluntary work

Yours sincerely,

Shan

-------------------------------
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.

-------------------------------

hide quoted sections

 

 

Tçnâ koe

 

Please find attached the Ministry’s response to your Official Information
Act request.

 

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.
-------------------------------