Deception And Fraud On Large Scale In Pensions Of Algerian Retirees From France

The lingering question about Algerian retirees who fraudulently still receive their retirement pensions resurfaces. Here are the details unveiled in a parliamentary report on the matter worked out by a French MP of which “Echorouk” received a copy.

Indeed, in his parliamentary report on the fight against fraud in social benefits, Patrick Hetzel, member of the Les Républicains group in France indicated that 2.4% or 14.9 million euros of fraud was paid to the accounts’ expatriate retirees, especially Algerians, reports the media Les Français press.

In this regard, the same source explained that controls in some countries are unreliable. These pensions can therefore be paid when their holder has already lost their life, some deaths being hidden from them according to what they indicate. As a result, pensions are unduly affected by their relatives.

In order to put an end to these fraudulent acts, the authors of the report in question recommend controlling what they called “the countries with high financial stake” implying the three countries of the Maghreb, namely Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, as there is no automated exchange of civil status information with local authorities, the French media reports.

Ghost retirees in Algeria?
The figure is difficult to confirm, however, according to the source reporting the information in the report. However, the media took the example of the census carried out in Algeria by the supplementary retirement of private sector employees, Agirc-Arrco to better explain.

According to figures in the report, only 179 beneficiaries out of a total of one (1) thousand have been made reliable. So 17.9% of beneficiaries are still alive. 691 beneficiaries, or 69% were not found. 130 beneficiaries, or 13% have already lost their lives, specifies the French media.

According to the same source, even if the figures in question are not exact, one thing is certain.
The figures relayed indicate the unreliability of the certificate of existence. Let’s note that to verify the existence of the insured pensioners, it is imperative to send the said certificate to your pension fund once a year.

Here is how France intends to solve this problem in Algeria
Coming back again to how to solve this problem and fight against this fraud. The same source indicated that the said report recommends the generalization of the exchange of automatic civil status information as is already the case with Germany, Italy and Belgium. A project that is currently underway with Algeria, Canada, and Morocco, said the same source.

In addition, the same source unveiled another solution. It is a question of strengthening these controls for more reliability and this, through the development of biometric recognition via an application on smartphones.

As a reminder, another French deputy namely José Evrard has already questioned the life certificates of Algerian retirees, issued by the Algerian authorities to France.