3,220
edits
Difference between revisions of "I'm Being Investigated by the Welfare Ministry"
From Clicklaw Wikibooks
I'm Being Investigated by the Welfare Ministry (view source)
Revision as of 01:58, 17 November 2011
, 01:58, 17 November 2011no edit summary
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Template:Legal Help Guide TOC}}If the Ministry of Social Development believes that you have received welfare benefits you shouldn't have, they may ask you to repay them. The same applies for the Administering Authority for welfare on an Indian reserve. This is called an overpayment. If they believe that you have received the benefit through fraud, they will investigate and may have you charged with an offence under the Criminal Code or provincial welfare laws. Fraud means receiving assistance as a result of providing information that you know is false or misleading. | {{Template:Legal Help Guide TOC}}If the Ministry of Social Development believes that you have received welfare benefits you shouldn't have, they may ask you to repay them. The same applies for the Administering Authority for welfare on an Indian reserve. This is called an overpayment. If they believe that you have received the benefit through fraud, they will investigate and may have you charged with an offence under the Criminal Code or provincial welfare laws. Fraud means receiving assistance as a result of providing information that you know is false or misleading. | ||
{{Tipsbox | |||
| width = 80% | |||
| tips = Take any accusation of welfare fraud very seriously. There are serious consequences of being convicted of welfare fraud: either a ban from receiving welfare for one or two years, or even a ban '''for life'''. (The exception is that if you have dependent children or a spouse, your family's benefits will be reduced instead of cut off.)}} | |||
== First steps == | == First steps == | ||
| Line 9: | Line 13: | ||
{{Tipsbox | {{Tipsbox | ||
| width = 80% | | width = 80% | ||
| tips = | | tips = Many criminal lawyers are not aware that welfare benefits are affected if you are convicted of fraud in relation to welfare benefits. Make sure you or your welfare advocate tell your lawyer this information. Give your lawyer a copy of the lawyer's fact sheet described below in the "Where to get help" section.}} | ||
== What happens next?== | == What happens next?== | ||
The Ministry will continue their investigation and will probably want to speak with you. This can be tricky. You have to provide certain information to the Ministry in order to continue receiving benefits, but it is generally not a good idea to discuss anything with them that could lead to a criminal charge and conviction. Be guided by legal advice, and speak with a welfare advocate about what information you need to provide to the Ministry in order to continue receiving benefits. | The Ministry will continue their investigation and will probably want to speak with you. This can be tricky. You have to provide certain information to the Ministry in order to continue receiving benefits, but it is generally not a good idea to discuss anything with them that could lead to a criminal charge and conviction. Be guided by legal advice, and speak with a welfare advocate about what information you need to provide to the Ministry in order to continue receiving benefits. | ||
== Where to get help== | == Where to get help== | ||
