The audit office has identified extensive weaknesses in the management of social benefits by the deputy welfare ministry, with systemic failures that led to delays, overpayments and payments to individuals who did not meet eligibility criteria.

The findings published on Tuesday, and covering 2022 and 2023, point to “ineffectiveness of critical controls” and call for a reassessment of how benefits are administered.

According to the report, gaps in oversight allowed payments to continue without proper verification of income, assets, residence status or family circumstances, while applications remained in “pre-approval” status far beyond the intended timeframe.

Particular concern is raised over the administration of the minimum guaranteed income scheme, where failures in social intervention measures meant beneficiaries were not consistently referred for employment or assessed for their capacity to work.

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In some cases, individuals received support for extended periods without even being registered with employment services or having their circumstances reviewed.

The audit highlights that benefits were in certain instances paid for years without confirmation of basic eligibility conditions.

One case cited involved payments totalling €62,981 over nine years, including support for an adult dependent who was never registered as unemployed and was suspected of residing abroad.

Significant delays were also identified in disability assessments, with hundreds of cases remained pending referral or examination, while payments continued without formal certification.

The report records that 629 recipients were ultimately found not to qualify for disability benefits after assessment.

The “pre-approval” process, designed to allow temporary payments for up to three months pending submission of documentation, was found to have been extended in some cases for more than three years.

This, the audit states, contributed to payments being made without sufficient supporting evidence or final decisions on eligibility.

Weaknesses in data verification and interdepartmental coordination further undermined the system.

The audit found limited capacity to cross-check information with banking institutions, immigration records and property databases, resulting in cases where declared income did not align with actual expenditure.

In one example, a pensioner couple reported having €112 per month remaining after expenses, “an amount that does not seem sufficient”, suggesting the possibility of undeclared income.

In another case, a single parent’s assets increased from €157,733 to €825,074 within a year without any recorded investigation into the source of the funds.

The report indicates that such discrepancies were not systematically examined despite being clear indicators for further scrutiny.

Payments were also made to individuals without valid residence permits.

One third-country national received €231,907 over several years despite permits having expired long before, while another case involved benefits paid for a deceased child over an extended period.

Additional examples include payments to individuals who failed to provide proof of residence and to persons receiving disability support without ever undergoing medical examination.

The audit further identifies structural issues, including the absence of a unified information system and limited integration between state registers.

This lack of interconnection made it difficult to verify marital status, residency and financial data, increasing the risk of duplication and incorrect payments.

Cases were identified where multiple benefits were granted for the same need, as well as instances where single-parent allowances were paid without confirmation of family status.

Delays in implementing social intervention policies also contributed to prolonged dependency on benefits.

Overall expenditure on key benefits, including minimum guaranteed income, child benefit, single-parent allowance and support for low-income pensioners, exceeded €400 million annually during the period under review.

The Audit office concluded with a call for immediate reforms, including stronger control mechanisms, mandatory data cross-checks, improved coordination between services and the development of a unified digital infrastructure to support real-time verification.

It also stresses the need for a clearer legislative framework and timely reassessment of beneficiaries to ensure that support is directed to those who meet the criteria.

As stated in the report, benefits must function as “a safety net and not as a permanent substitute for work”.