Photo ID for dole

Bottle_of_Smoke

Have heard a few anecdotal stories about people collecting their friend/family's dole (2 are definite, few more reliable sources) when said person has emigrated

Indeed I could be doing it myself as I was on the dole up until getting a job abroad last month.

My brother would just have to bring my SW card into the post office and sign the slip.

I think this kind of thing is too easy to do and no legislation would be required to stamp it out, basically like an off licence, you need photo ID to collect dole.

I know the savings won't be huge but it would at least stop demoralising people when they hear this kind of thing going on

Saadyst

You get asked time to time to provide photo ID when collecting from the post office. Not every single time, but maybe a third or the time or so.

Bottle_of_Smoke

Saadyst wrote: »

You get asked time to time to provide photo ID when collecting from the post office. Not every single time, but maybe a third or the time or so.

Well that's good to know but I think it is perhaps not common policy. I claimed for 7 weeks in the summer and was never once asked for photo ID

daltonm

Until An Post negotiate with the union for the extra work and responsibility involved it will not be required to produce photo ID each time you collect your dole ( I know they do spot checks on rare occasions).

They attempted to bring this in some time ago but it fell flat because of legal issues and work practices.

For instance the workers were concerned about counterfeit passport and how they would identify false passports. They were also concerned if they didn't spot a problem if they were busy - would they then be in trouble.

Max Power1

Saadyst wrote: »

You get asked time to time to provide photo ID when collecting from the post office. Not every single time, but maybe a third or the time or so.

I was on the dole for a year recently (last year until november) and was never asked once

enda_4

Max Power1 wrote: »

I was on the dole for a year recently (last year until november) and was never asked once

Yeah, I was on the dole for about 5 months and never asked once. The other issue is the stories about people flying in from other countries to collect their dole once a month.

TouchingVirus

enda_4 wrote: »

Yeah, I was on the dole for about 5 months and never asked once. The other issue is the stories about people flying in from other countries to collect their dole once a month.

No, flying in once a month to sign on. You have to collect your dole every week.

Stinicker

I know the person in the post office so don't get ID'd. The last day I was collecting it at the next hatch down some Roma were getting theirs and he was asked for ID, he didn't have any and went over to a friend of his as they were in a group and produced a photocopy of some ID and the dozy idiot paid him out. If some of the massive abuse of the dole was stopped they would have millions saved.

Sparky J

I've been on the dole 10 months now and never asked for I'd in post office or SW Office.
Though in fairness those in the post office know my face now from seeing me every week so I think they would spot if someone was getting a friend or family member to collect for them occasionally.

I agree that they need to get harder on those abusing the system, some of the stories I hear when I am in the SW Office is incredible.
While waiting last week a guy next to me said to the girl that he missed his sign in date the week before because his leg was sore and couldn't drive in. She never questioned why he didn't get the bus in instead or anything.

jimmycrackcorm

Photo ID is ridiculous because forgeries are easily made or acquired over the internet - our under 18's are quite adept at this. There should be better use made of the smart card to bring up the claimants details at the point of payment including the photo for verification. In fact, a photo of the claimant should be taken at that point for audit accuracy; If any investigation requirement arose subsequently there would be a visual record to compare.

max 73

I'm on a 3 day week & when I go to the post office I get ID'd each time

Bottle_of_Smoke

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Photo ID is ridiculous because forgeries are easily made or acquired over the internet - our under 18's are quite adept at this. There should be better use made of the smart card to bring up the claimants details at the point of payment including the photo for verification. In fact, a photo of the claimant should be taken at that point for audit accuracy; If any investigation requirement arose subsequently there would be a visual record to compare.

That would actually be an even better solution

thomasj

How about asking people to sign on twice weekly, once in person and once by computer phone etc. using computer, block the ability to do so from outside the country this on top of mandatory I'd could help sort out who isn't entitled to it

Stinicker

thomasj wrote: »

How about asking people to sign on twice weekly, once in person and once by computer phone etc. using computer, block the ability to do so from outside the country this on top of mandatory I'd could help sort out who isn't entitled to it

People already sign 5 times a month, 4 in the Post Office and once in the SW office. Something like this is ludacris and it should revert to the old system where you could sign once a month and have it paid to your bank account.

Bottle_of_Smoke

thomasj wrote: »

How about asking people to sign on twice weekly, once in person and once by computer phone etc. using computer, block the ability to do so from outside the country this on top of mandatory I'd could help sort out who isn't entitled to it

Proxies are very easy to use so signing in online wouldnt make much difference. Certainly wouldn't offset the amount it would cost to set up

dan_d

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Photo ID is ridiculous because forgeries are easily made or acquired over the internet - our under 18's are quite adept at this. There should be better use made of the smart card to bring up the claimants details at the point of payment including the photo for verification. In fact, a photo of the claimant should be taken at that point for audit accuracy; If any investigation requirement arose subsequently there would be a visual record to compare.

Perfect sense.

In fact, my gym can manage to do something similar - every time they scan my card for me to go in and out, a photo of me appears on the computer screen they're looking at, and it's one of the older gyms in Dublin. No reason that couldn't be brought in.

As for photo ID - I've been asked once.

And I know of people who arrange to pick up their dole once a month, as a lump sum. Irish people. It can still be done.

johnnyskeleton

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Have heard a few anecdotal stories about people collecting their friend/family's dole (2 are definite, few more reliable sources) when said person has emigrated

Indeed I could be doing it myself as I was on the dole up until getting a job abroad last month.

My brother would just have to bring my SW card into the post office and sign the slip.

I think this kind of thing is too easy to do and no legislation would be required to stamp it out, basically like an off licence, you need photo ID to collect dole.

I know the savings won't be huge but it would at least stop demoralising people when they hear this kind of thing going on

So ironically enough by making people collect the dole in person they are increasing the scope for abuse?

maxwell smart

The real scam is "disability/illness" benefit. For this, once you've been on it long enough (1 year I think), they lodge your money into the bank for you. All you need to do is get a friend to collect a cert from the doctor each month and have them send it into the social welfare. After 2 years you will be called for a medical review, so if you were living abroad you would have plenty of notice.
This is how the real professional scammers do it.

enda_4

I think biometrics is the way forward, thumbprint scans. Granted it may be a bit costly, but I'm sure if you crunched the numbers it would pay for itself plus it would generate some work in the short term.
I heard about people recently claiming multiple times from the same SW office!
Making more than most of us make a week! :mad:

flutered

maxwell smart wrote: »

The real scam is "disability/illness" benefit. For this, once you've been on it long enough (1 year I think), they lodge your money into the bank for you. All you need to do is get a friend to collect a cert from the doctor each month and have them send it into the social welfare. After 2 years you will be called for a medical review, so if you were living abroad you would have plenty of notice.
This is how the real professional scammers do it.

you are very wrong my friend, i am checked out every five months or so, they just arrive at my door, walk in look around and ask umteen questions, i have been certified by three different consultants.

donkey balls

i must have gone to the wrong welfare office&post office:eek: when i was made redundant two years ago, as they asked me for photo id any time i went to speak to them.

mikemac

donkey balls wrote: »

i must have gone to the wrong welfare office&post office:eek: when i was made redundant two years ago, as they asked me for photo id any time i went to speak to them.

Maybe you look a bit dodgy and devious? They don't like the cut of your jib
Me? Face like an angel

The photo on the computer is a very workable idea.
Lots of gyms do this. You show up or even identify yourself and they have your details and your photo.
If a gym can do it then so can the Department

donkey balls

when i worked at Dub airport we used to swipe our airside ID badge through a scanner and if it came up red you got stopped and the id taking of you.
as for the govt bringing in id cards with pics i reckon they would have to out source it to a foreign company overseas,as we seemingly dont have the resource here to make them.
I form this opinion from having my details sent to the RSA who then send them off to a company in the UK to make the drivers digital card for bus&truck.

raz86

i'm on a 3 day week and i never sign on. i send send these yellow slips back to the dole office. i never actually had ever had to go into the office, except to sign on

later12

enda_4 wrote: »

I think biometrics is the way forward, thumbprint scans. Granted it may be a bit costly, but I'm sure if you crunched the numbers it would pay for itself plus it would generate some work in the short term.

Isn't there actually some sort of system for this lying idle in the Department somehwere?