The Department of Social Services has been hit by a back-to-school scam, with fraudsters pretending to be in need, then selling government vouchers and pocketing cash, Minister of Social Services Melanie Griffin revealed yesterday.
"Once the client is known to Social Services, of course it dispenses [assistance] right away without the home inspection and that heavy assessment process because they're known, and we have their record already," said Griffin, who appeared as a guest on "Darold Miller Live" on Guardian Radio 96.9 FM.
"We have put in place a purchase order so the social worker no longer has to go, do a home assessment and then go and purchase the uniforms and the shoes for the client."
Griffin said there are approved vendors who people can take their purchase orders to and buy the uniforms directly, but people have found loopholes in the process.
"They are trying to sell it for cash," she said.
"If you go in the store with your purchase order and another customer is in the store, who is buying with cash, you try to get that customer to use your purchase order and give you the cash.
"In one situation, the person indicated to the vendor 'you know I already went away and got my child's stuff and now I need to pay my child's school fees'."
Although she did not detail how many cases of fraud have been perpetrated or the amount of money lost, the minister said up to $110 can be provided per child for primary school students and $135 for high schools students.
Social Services provides many forms of assistance, including food, temporary living accommodations, rent, and utility bills, among others.
However, to accommodate the increased demand for uniform assistance, Griffin said her ministry took steps to make the process simpler this year.
She said her ministry is reviewing and implementing new measures that will help protect the department against fraud.
Uniform assistance is normally grouped with other assistance programs in the government's annual budget with a provision of $250,000 to $260,000.
Griffin said the program was given its own line item in the 2012/2013 budget and its provision is now closer to $360,000.
She appealed to those who don't truly need the assistance to be mindful that there are many who do and warned fraudsters that they will be found and prosecuted.
"I know people don't like to be assessed, but [this is why] we really have to do the assessments because there are some persons out there who will always try to scam the system," she said.

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