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Fear of retaliation has contributed to a low level of complaints against social welfare inspectors by complainants, according to industry experts.
Social welfare inspectors can visit homes and workplaces to “make sure compliance is in order,” according to the government.
An investigation of This week it found that many women who received a single parent payment have reported being “harassed,” “stalked,” and “intimidated” by welfare inspectors who show up at their home without warning. Many have reported that inspectors go through their wardrobes and ask how they pay for items like baby clothes and Sky TV packages.
Some of the women He spoke with said that inspectors told them they would lose welfare payments if they entered into relationships, and inspectors have been quoted on several occasions as making comments such as, “Do you expect us to pay for your lifestyle?” and other comments that women said made them feel “degraded” and “worthless.”
The number of complaints has been stable since 2012, with only 18 filed against inspectors. In 2014, the number was as low as eight and kept rising. In 2018, 19 complaints were filed and in 2019 there was an increase, with 31, the highest number ever recorded.
Those in the sector say that complaints remain low for fear of reprisals and an antagonistic approach from those who work in social welfare.
Joe Whelan, Professor of Applied Social Studies at UCC, has researched the social welfare system for several years. He said he would be surprised if the number of complaints increased.
“There is a reluctance to complain informally or formally, because that puts them at a disadvantage … we call it ‘impression management’, trying to be a ‘good’ beneficiary of welfare, so that the boat does not move.” , He said. He said.
“I am not surprised that it is low, I would be surprised if it was higher, people are very reluctant to complain … it is a feeling or feeling of how they treat you, you are very scrutinized and it is a systemic problem, it comes with a certain kind of culture “.
Bríd O’Brien of the Irish National Organization for the Unemployed said: “The The report resonates a lot with things that would come up in our defense services, in inspections, whether it’s single parents or people with disability payments, that feeling of ‘Don’t believe me, I’m not up to anything good’ is very common. “
In a statement, the Department of Social Protection said it refutes any suggestion that making a complaint would have an impact on a customer’s claim, rights or future interactions with it.
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