Authorities look to stem false benefit payments
The state-run agency set up to stem the flow of money to support organised crime via state handouts claims that it has already recouped nearly 8 million kronor ($1.3 million) from just a dozen people in Stockholm alone.
A report in Svenska Dagbladet claims that in a bid to stem the flow of welfare payments funding organised crime, the social insurance agency (Försäkringskassan) is looking to recoup money falsely given out to those caught committing crimes whilst receiving benefits, sometimes over several years.
This is one of the initiatives set out by the Regional Intelligence Centre (RUC) which is looking to stop unnecessary or illegal payments as well as fighting the rise of organised crime in Sweden says the paper.
The RUC was set up a few years ago to bring together the various agencies in a a bid to thwart organised crime and now there are eight such operations around the country.
Although it is too early to evaluate how successful the initiative has been, since its foundation in 2007, it has claimed that many people have been caught claiming benefits while taking part in criminal activity, leading to nearly nearly 8 million kronor ($1.3 million) being recouped from a dozen or so culprits just in the Stockholm council.
Thomas Falk, who is in charge of the monitoring within the social insurance agency told SVD, “We did not know about these cases before. We have not been able to control the criminals, especially if everything seems to be okay on paper. So it's a huge advantage being able to work with the RUC.”
Working on the premise that “if you are well enough to commit a crime you are well enough to work” the social insurance agency hopes that by highlighting the progress made so far more can be done in the future.
Comments
See Also
A report in Svenska Dagbladet claims that in a bid to stem the flow of welfare payments funding organised crime, the social insurance agency (Försäkringskassan) is looking to recoup money falsely given out to those caught committing crimes whilst receiving benefits, sometimes over several years.
This is one of the initiatives set out by the Regional Intelligence Centre (RUC) which is looking to stop unnecessary or illegal payments as well as fighting the rise of organised crime in Sweden says the paper.
The RUC was set up a few years ago to bring together the various agencies in a a bid to thwart organised crime and now there are eight such operations around the country.
Although it is too early to evaluate how successful the initiative has been, since its foundation in 2007, it has claimed that many people have been caught claiming benefits while taking part in criminal activity, leading to nearly nearly 8 million kronor ($1.3 million) being recouped from a dozen or so culprits just in the Stockholm council.
Thomas Falk, who is in charge of the monitoring within the social insurance agency told SVD, “We did not know about these cases before. We have not been able to control the criminals, especially if everything seems to be okay on paper. So it's a huge advantage being able to work with the RUC.”
Working on the premise that “if you are well enough to commit a crime you are well enough to work” the social insurance agency hopes that by highlighting the progress made so far more can be done in the future.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.