System checks conducted so far have uncovered more than 4,500 recipients of guaranteed minimum assistance and social security benefits who, according to Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, should not have been receiving funds.
PM Mickoski claims that the list of individuals receiving state payments included deceased persons, citizens who had emigrated, and even fictitious recipients.
“To date, we have identified more than 4,500, not 45, not 450, but 4,500, fraudulent recipients of guaranteed minimum assistance and social security,” Mickoski said.
According to the PM, following analyses and field checks, the total amount of funds scheduled for payment this month is approximately MKD 200 million lower than in the same month last year.
“How is that possible? It is possible because the recipients were, unfortunately, deceased individuals, people who had moved away, fictitious persons, etc.,” Mickoski stressed.
He estimated that, on an annual basis, the state budget had been allocating more than one billion—and possibly up to MKD 1.5 billion for payments to such recipients, amounting to approximately EUR 25 million. As the Prime Minister indicated, the checks have not yet been completed. Approximately one-fifth to one-sixth of the total number of beneficiaries is still yet to be checked.