Difference between revisions of "Welfare Overpayments and Fraud (21:VII)"

If a person receives any form of welfare benefit or supplement that he or she is not entitled to, those benefits are considered to be an overpayment. Overpayments can range from a few dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. '''Many overpayments arise not out of fraud by the  welfare recipient but rather out of an honest error on the part of either the recipient or MSDSI.'''  

When a person has received an overpayment from MSDSI for any form of benefit under the welfare legislation, the overpayment is a debt owed to  the Crown. According to EAA, ss 27-28 andEAPWDA, ss 18-19, the government may recover the debt by deducting funds from subsequent payments of income assistance or pursuing a court action.  

:'''NOTE:''' If a client faces a civil lawsuit for a welfare overpayment resulting from failure to provide complete or accurate information,  refer him or her to a lawyer at the Community Legal Assistance Society.