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Policy Information

Control Surveys


What is the purpose of the Control Surveys?

The Department of Social Protection undertakes Control Surveys to identify the level of risk associated with particular schemes. The surveys highlight the risk of non-compliance with the rules of the schemes being surveyed at a particular point in time. The survey results allow the department to target the scheme, and its particular risk areas, for stronger control measures, where necessary, to minimise the level of future risk.

How are they conducted?

In each survey, a random sample of cases in payment in a particular week is selected. The sample is examined by the department's Statistics Unit to ensure that it is representative of the claims in payment on the scheme. These cases are then referred to social welfare inspectors for full investigation in terms of whether the claimants in question continue to meet the qualifying conditions attaching to each scheme. Cases are then returned to deciding officers in the department for decision. Based on the outcomes of these investigations, the net loss to Government due to fraud/error is calculated.

A detailed methodological document on the surveys is available here.

What constitutes fraud and error?

Fraud or suspected fraud mainly arises where it appears to the deciding officer that the customer knowingly gave false or misleading information or wilfully concealed relevant information. Error cases are primarily due to inadvertent customer, third party or departmental error.

How are the results of the surveys presented?

Results are presented in terms of the net rate of fraud and error. The net rate refers to the position after account is taken of decreases in weekly rate, increases in weekly rate, terminations of payment, transfers to other payments and the position following appeal of any cases affected.

Where can I find out the results?

Please choose from the list below:

State Pension (Non-contributory) Control Survey 2024
This survey was undertaken on the State Pension (Non-contributory) (SPNC) scheme. SPNC is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, who do not qualify for an insurancebased State Pension (Contributory), or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. 8 March 2025
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Jobseekers Allowance Control Survey 2024
This survey was undertaken on the Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) scheme. JA is a means-tested payment made to people who are unemployed and: • who do not qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit (JB)/Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed) (JBSE). • whose entitlement to JB/JBSE has expired. OR • who do qualify for JB/JBSE but choose to claim Optional Jobseeker’s Allowance OR • are casually employed but seeking full-time work. 8 March 2025
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State Pension (Contributory) and Widow’s, Widower’s & Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension Control Survey 2023
For this survey, 400 randomly sampled SPC claims and 200 WCP claims in payment in February 2023 were reviewed to assess recipients’ compliance with the rules of the schemes.
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Jobseekers Allowance Control Survey 2023
For this survey, 947 randomly sampled JA claims in payment in 2022 and 2023 were reviewed to assess recipients’ compliance with the rules of the scheme. These reviews took place in three batches: 250 claims were selected in February 2022, another 500 in September 2022 and a further 197 in April 2023.
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Jobseekers Benefit Control Survey (2022)
This survey was undertaken on the Jobseekers Benefit (JB) scheme. For the survey, 600 randomly selected JB claims in payment during the week of the 14 of February 2022 were reviewed to assess compliance with the rules of the scheme.
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Disability Allowance Control Survey (2022)
This survey was undertaken on the Disability Allowance (DA) scheme. For the survey,600 randomly selected DA claims in payment during week commencing 18 April 2022 were identified. 597 cases were reviewed to assess compliance with the rules of the scheme, 3 were excluded from review and judged as vulnerable cases.
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Child Benefit Control Survey (2021)
This survey was undertaken on the Child Benefit (CB) scheme. For the survey, 600 randomly sampled CB claims in payment in May 2021 were reviewed to assess compliance with the rules of the scheme.
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Jobseeker’s Allowance Control Survey (2020/21)
This survey was undertaken on the Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) scheme. For the survey, 750 randomly sampled JA claims in payment in 2020 and 2021 were reviewed to assess recipients’ compliance with the rules of the scheme. These reviews took place in three batches: 250 claims were selected in January 2020, another 250 in November 2020 and a further 250 in July 2021.
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Jobseeker's Allowance Control Survey (2019)
This survey was undertaken on the Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) scheme. JA is a means-tested payment made to people who are unemployed (see section 3 for more details).
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One-Parent Family Payment Control Survey (2019)
This survey was undertaken on the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) scheme. OFP is a means-tested payment for parents under 66 who are parenting alone, and whose youngest child is under 7 (see section 3 for more details).
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Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Control Survey (2018 -2019)
This survey was undertaken on the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme. The BTWEA scheme encourages people receiving certain social welfare payments to become self-employed.
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State Pension (Non Contributory) Control Survey (2017 -2018)
This survey was undertaken on the State Pension (Non-contributory) (SPNC) scheme. SPNC is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, who do not qualify for an insurance-based State Pension (Contributory), or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.
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Carers Allowance Control Survey (2017)
This survey was undertaken on the Carer’s Allowance scheme. Carer's Allowance is a means-tested payment for people who provide full-time care and attention to another person.
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Supplementary Welfare Allowance (BASI) Fraud and Error Survey (2016)
This is the first Fraud and Error survey to be undertaken on the Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (BASI), an allowance awarded as part of the overall Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.
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State Pension (Contributory) Fraud and Error Survey (2016)
This survey was undertaken on the State Pension (Contributory) scheme, Ireland’s largest State pension scheme.
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Household Benefits Fraud and Error Survey Report (2016)
This survey was undertaken on the Household Benefits scheme, which provides recipients with free Television Licences and contributions towards electricity or gas bills (‘the Household Benefits package’).
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Farm Assist Fraud and Error Survey Report (2016)
This survey was undertaken on the Farm Assist scheme, which is one of a range of measures designed to provide income support to low-income farmers which, in turn, is intended to ensure the viability of rural communities.
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FIS Fraud and Error Published Survey Report (2015)
This survey was undertaken on the Family Income Supplement scheme (FIS), a weekly in-work support which provides an income top-up for low earning full-time workers with children (see section 2 for a detailed description). It is the second such survey of this scheme, the first survey having been completed in 2005.
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Invalidity Pension Fraud and Error Survey Report (2015)
This survey is the first to be undertaken on the Invalidity Pension (IP) scheme, which is a weekly payment to people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability and are covered by social insurance (PRSI).
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Illness Benefit Fraud and Error Survey Report (2015)
This survey is the second to be undertaken on the Illness Benefit (IB) scheme, which is a short-term weekly payment to people who cannot work because of illness or injury and are covered by social insurance (PRSI).
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Widow/er's, Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pensions (WSCPCP) Fraud and Error Survey Report (2014)
This survey was undertaken on the Widow/er’s, Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pensions (WSCPCP) scheme, which is administered by Social Welfare Services in Sligo. The survey refers to a week in August 2013. This was the first fraud and error survey to be undertaken on the WSCPCP scheme.
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Rent Supplement Fraud and Error Survey Report (2014)
This survey was undertaken on the Rent Supplement scheme. The survey commenced in March 2013.
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Jobseeker's Allowance Fraud and Error Survey Report (2014)
This survey was undertaken on the Jobseeker’s allowance (JA) scheme administered in DSP Intreo and Local Offices. The survey refers to a week in September 2012.
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Child Benefit Fraud and Error Survey Report (2013)
The purpose of this survey was to establish baseline levels of fraud and error in the Child Benefit (CB) scheme. The survey took place in Q2 2012. The last fraud and error survey on CB was undertaken in 2004.
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One-Parent Family Payment Fraud and Error Survey Report (2012)
The purpose of this survey was to establish baseline levels of fraud and error in the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) scheme administered in DSP Local Offices. The survey took place in Q2 2011. The last fraud and error survey on OFP was undertaken in 2007.
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Jobseeker's Benefit Fraud and Error Survey Report (2012)
The purpose of this survey was to establish baseline levels of fraud and error in the Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) scheme administered in DSP Local Offices. The survey took place in Q4 2011. The last fraud and error survey on JB (then known as UB) was undertaken in 2003.
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Disability Allowance Fraud and Error Survey Report (2012)
The purpose of this survey was to establish baseline levels of fraud and error in the Disability Allowance (DA) scheme. The survey took place in Q4 2010. The last fraud and error survey on DA was undertaken in 2005.
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Key things to note

Control Surveys give a snapshot in time of the risk of non-compliance by customers with the rules of schemes being surveyed.

The net rate, as shown above, takes account of the financial effect of customers returning to the scheme following appeal or transferring to another social welfare payment.

The only reliable measure of excess payments by the department through fraudulent claiming is by way of fraud overpayments raised.