A person who benefited social aid in Austria has been left without such financial support, as authorities in the town of Wels discovered he had a home in Kosovo and received a pension there, without declaring it to Austrian institutions.

The case was made public by the Wels Community, in an official report published on November 2nd, where results of checks on persons benefiting social assistance were presented.

According to local authorities, doubts about the case arose after municipal officials had gone for control several times at the beneficiary’s residence in Austria, but had not found it there.

Following further verification, it was found that he owned a house in Kosovo and benefited from retirement there, while also receiving social assistance in Austria.

As a result, the authorities decided to discontinue social assistance and report the case to the relevant organs.

In addition, he was asked to return an estimated 9,000 euros in social aid benefits. According to the announcement, this amount has already been repaid through installment payments.

The Wels municipality has indicated that by the end of September of this year, 97 checks have been conducted in social aid beneficiaries’ residences.

Controls have been conducted incidentally, but also after information received from other people. During them, officials verify residential addresses, declared wealth, incomes and long stays outside Austria.

Another case recorded during these checks relates to a beneficiary who, according to authorities, remained for weeks in Turkey. After the discovery, social aid was recalculated, while the case was reported to relevant organs.

Wels Chairman Andreas Rabl has said that institutions have responsibilities for social assistance to be used fairly and according to the goal for which they are divided.

We help all those who really need support, while misuse of social aid and ban, Rabl has declared.

According to the municipality, the purpose of the checks is for social assistance to reach those who meet legal conditions for its benefit.

Source Layer: Signal