At the start of September, the Investigation Service of the Netherlands Labour Authority arrested 2 men, aged 45 and 48, on suspicion of forgery, money laundering and participation in a criminal organisation. The men are alleged to have used false or forged discharge certificates relating to themselves and other prisoners to apply for and receive benefits illegally from the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV). During the arrests, a search was also carried out as part of the investigation.
If someone is receiving benefits and is subsequently imprisoned, their entitlement to those benefits ceases after 1 month. The UWV receives what is known as a 'detention notification' and the benefit is then stopped. When an individual who is entitled to a benefit is subsequently released from prison, they will receive written confirmation to this effect in the form of a discharge certificate, which then has to be submitted to the UWV in order for the benefit to be reinstated. Ex-prisoners are personally responsible for arranging this.
False or forged discharge certificates with retroactive effect
The 2 suspects are alleged to have committed fraud by forging discharge certificates stating a date of release, even though the prisoner in question was still in prison at that time. In several cases the prisoners deliberately chose to draw up their discharge certificates with retroactive effect in order to receive as much money as possible. As a result, several prisoners subsequently received a back payment from the UWV and their benefits (under the Incapacity Insurance (Young Disabled Persons) Act (Wajong) and the Work and Income (Capacity for Work) Act (WIA)) were reinstated, even though they were not entitled to them due to their ongoing imprisonment.
Investigation Service engaged after suspicions of fraud
The investigation was launched after suspicions were raised of prisoners committing fraud involving UWV benefits. The fraud took place whilst one of the suspects was still in prison and continued after his release. Both suspects are alleged to have submitted forged discharge certificates to the UWV relating to themselves and several other prisoners over a period of 5 years. The suspects received payment for arranging false or forged discharge certificates and for recruiting other prisoners. The total amount involved in the fraud is said to be around 160,000 euros.
Undermining of social security
Fraud involving benefits, grants and financial assistance undermines public support for the social security system and support provided by the government. This type of fraud also tends to spread if appropriate action is not taken. That is why our Investigation Service is carrying out criminal investigations into this type of illegal arrangement. In addition, the UWV is setting up its own investigation and analysis team to identify and combat this type of fraud.
