Benefit fraud much worse than thought

THE NUMBER of people committing benefit fraud in France is 20 times greater than initial estimates and the cost to the system is 10 times bigger, according to a new report.

The first major study of its kind by the Caisse Nationale d'Allocations Familiales estimates that 200,000 people are being paid benefits to which they are not entitled, at a total cost of €800m a year.

The confidential report, leaked to Le Parisien, says the authorities have a "major problem with detecting fraud".

Last September, the CNAF had estimated that less than 10,000 people were claiming illegal benefits at a cost of €80m.

The head of the CNAF's anti-fraud unit, Daniel Buchet, said the body had carried out 300,000 home visits last year to check claimants' eligibility - and would be stepping up these controls.