A Political approach to welfare fraud & the experience of financial assistance workers
Date
1996
Authors
Robertson, Jeanette Suzanne
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Abstract
This thesis explores two perspectives on measures introduced to combat welfare fraud, and make social programs more accountable in British Columbia, with specific attention to the measures introduced by the New Democratic Party in January 1994.
The first perspective is that of the media, government, and Ministry of Social Services. A content analysis of media articles, government reports and open ended interviews with Ministry officials is provided. There was widespread media attention on the topic of fraud in the early 1990s. However the majority of the articles lacked clear and precise definitions of what constituted welfare fraud. Furthermore, government inquiry into alleged welfare fraud was conducted in a manner which lead the public to stigmatize all recipients of Income Assistance and to the assumption that fraud was out of control. The analysis of the government's own reports did not confirm that fraud had increased, but there was a consensus that mechanisms for prevention and investigation required improvement. Emphasis was also placed on the role of front line Financial Assistance Workers (FAWs) in the prevention and detection of fraud.
The second perspective is that of the FAW s on their work and on the impact of these measures. This perspective was obtained through a qualitative research methodology. Seven FAWs from across Vancouver Island were interviewed in January 1995 and these interviews were followed by a group feedback session in May 1995. The analysis of their experience illustrates that, while they experience fraud in their practice, it did not dominate their daily experience. However the Ministry's concern with fraud led to some confusion over the expectations of their role; were they expected to be "cops" or "helpers"? As the emphasis on the "cop" role increased they became less able to address the broad needs of their clients and job satisfaction fell.
In the end, many of the measures allegedly introduced to reduce fraud appeared to have more to do with reducing public expenditures through narrowing eligibility criteria, and appeasing the public and political opposition to welfare, than addressing the problem of fraud. Thus consideration of the measures taken to combat welfare fraud and the experience of FAWs with fraud illustrates the underlying shift to a more residual model of social welfare that is taking place during the 1990s.