NAU launches fraud hotline to report welfare cheats
(CNS): As the Needs Assessment Unit begins rolling out its new technology platform to improve the delivery of social services, it has launched a dedicated Fraud Reporting Hotline. Given the broad perception that some people receiving government cash are either undeserving or not Caymanian, the phone line has been installed to promote transparency and accountability.
According to a release from the social development ministry, the hotline is “a crucial initiative empowering residents and employees to play an active role in maintaining the integrity of the financial assistance system”.
The hotline is one of two initiatives that the NAU has now launched, the ministry said. The department has also introduced advanced client service software to improve the experiences of clients who call the unit to make inquiries about their benefits or to ask how to apply for help from the government.
But the dedicated Fraud Reporting Hotline is a means to report suspected welfare cheats. The ministry said it was to ensure that everyone who gets government support is not only genuinely in need but meets the criteria.
The hotline number is 1-800- 534-0024.
It offers several key features including anonymous reporting and an effective response. “Callers can report suspected fraud anonymously, fostering an environment where individuals feel comfortable coming forward without fear of retaliation,” the ministry said.
The number is exclusively for fraud issues and the NAU now has a full complement of compliance officers who will review messages promptly and initiate investigations into potential cases of fraud where necessary.
Social Development Minister André Ebanks said the government was dedicated to enhancing the efficiency of financial assistance programmes.
“Launching these new initiatives simultaneously is a deliberate and strategic approach aimed [at enhancing] operational efficiency and elevating overall client and applicant satisfaction, whilst continuing to lay a solid foundation for a seamless transition of NAU to the Department of Financial Assistance later this year,” he said.
“Our goal is to align the transformation of our financial assistance programmes efficiently with the needs and expectations of the community while upholding higher standards of support together with prevention of potential misuse of public funds.”
NAU Director Tamara Hurlston pointed out the significance of enhancing client experiences and emphasised the importance of community engagement with the hotline. “We encourage the community to provide feedback on these new initiatives and to report instances where others may be taking advantage of the system, ensuring resources are directed towards those who genuinely need support,” she said.
Chief Officer Tamara Ebanks said that introducing “cutting-edge customer service software” provides an efficient and user-friendly experience for the NAU’s clients and the community, and aligns with “our broader goals of enhancing public services”.
Last year, the ministry held a series of public meetings about the changes it was making to the welfare system and the eventual implementation of new legislation that was passed in parliament in 2022. It was due to be implemented last summer but is now expected to come into force later this year.
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Category: Local News
Simple kickback scams that are now in most work permits and construction sites..
The foreman/boss/social worker gets 30percent of the pay check, or the food vouchers.
1. Let’s see who will answer the bloody phone. One of the biggest problems with CIG.
2. Have NAU Staff be held accountable first. Too many of them sit on their lazy ass and do no check ups on the landlords who accept NAU Clients, collect big rental cheques and provide ‘shanty town’ types of accommodation to these clients who accept them because they have nowhere else to go.
3. Make the Director accountable for these incompetent staff members.
4. CIG needs to take homelessness as a serious problem and develop housing projects that will provide one solution to this growing problem. Stop listening to the soar people who say Cayman is too good for Project housing.
5. To stop fraudulent behaviour start making our politicians accountable for every single part of their manifestos they are not fulfilling.
They need to offer the whistleblowers financial incentives to be paid by the savings from stopping the fraud. I bet they’d get lots of tips.
Now that is a laugh – name one government body where enforcement actually happens
Curious, what’s the number to report the politicians and senior CIG department heads that are accepting 6 or 7 figure bribe payments and/or stealing? It’s not 9-1-1, that’s for sure.
The phone number for the Anti-Corruption Commission is:
+1 (345) 244-3685
any able body Caymanian on NAU shoudl be doing beach/roadside cleanup mon-fri except for the times they have a real job interview.
NAU has almost 60 staff… not difficult to imagine some have Fren and relative dem who apply for hand outs.
Welfare cheats? In Cayman? I’m shocked. Shocked I tell you.
Excuse 1. It’s the expats fault. Especially Jamaicans.
Excuse 2. Reading and studying hurts my head.
Excuse 3. But I’m Caymanian.
Add your own excuses.
Calm down with the facts, they don’t like when Caymanians are held accountable, as it appears they have all the excuses in the world and other people to blame. As someone who has a keen interest in the future of this country, for the love of God, please tell these “Payrents” to get their kids to read a book please. As a matter of fact, please download a dictionary and send the link to them.
It’s sad it’s reach this stage of fraud. NAU need to implement a robust system to detect fraud. The same way a bank does credit check. NAU can implement a system as well. I don’t think we good law abiding citizen should be doing this.
Report me and I will just call my MP, talk today, the Governors Office. NAU will improve once you get rid of the current leadership (or lack thereof) from there.
There is no effective enforcement of anything!
We are not even deporting the foreigners defrauding us.
We are screwed.
I thought it said ‘tax cheats’ and I thought, that’s gonna be on busy phone line!
Any prosecutions of any of the many defrauded the government with Covid stipends?
While people with real businesses got zip zilch nada.
Can we report fraud by politicians? That would get the lines burning up!
Or Board members collecting full-time salary equivalent to attend two lunches aka board meetings per month.
Which Boards offer full time salary equivalents please? Asking for a friend
The Authority that gave themselves massive stipend increases plus subcommittee meetings to pad their incomes…o yes and the lunches too.
FOI HSA Board payments, members are collecting more than the average full-time wage paid to Civil Servants. Prove me wrong, and while you’re at it, ask what they are doing to collect such handsome amounts.
Offreg board for one. sure they’re others.
And all the fireworks you can eat..?
Yes, the Anti-Corruption Commission phone number is:
+1 (345) 244-3685
I’ll reserve judgment until we see any action being taken in response to reports.