Appendix E: Data Matching Program
The Data Matching Program is a program of computer matching of identity and income data held by relevant government agencies, including DVA, to detect incorrect payments in the income support system.
The legal authority for the data matching is contained in the Data-matching Program (Assistance and Tax) Act 1990 (Data-matching Act). The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner oversees the implementation of the Act through guidelines for the conduct of the Data Matching Program.
Section 12 of the Data-matching Act requires participating agencies to provide annual and three-yearly reports to Parliament on the operation of the program. DVA’s most recent three-yearly report was submitted in 2016, so this year’s report is a three-yearly report, focusing on the operation of the program within DVA for the financial years 2016–17, 2017–18 and 2018–19.
For a full explanation of the progress of the Data Matching Program within DVA, this report should be read in conjunction with previous data-matching annual reports.
Overview
The Data Matching Program identifies cases where there is a risk of incorrect payment through:
- detection of invalid tax file numbers
- identity matching, which detects fictitious or assumed identities
- payment matching, which detects people who may be in receipt of incorrect or dual payments from the same or different agencies, where the receipt of one payment precludes or limits payment of the other
- income matching, which detects instances where the income information disclosed to DVA differs from the income declared to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
The ATO provides details of identity and tax data of people in receipt of income support payments for comparison with the details provided by the other agencies.
Data-matching investigations
This section provides a summary of how DVA acts on discrepancies identified through data matching.
Invalid tax file numbers
DVA actions all discrepancies found through detection of invalid tax file numbers by contacting the client and obtaining the correct number.
Identity matching
DVA actions all discrepancies found through identity matching by correcting administrative errors, investigating anomalies that may potentially be fraudulent or seeking the correct identity details from the client, and providing those details to the ATO so that the ATO can correct its records.
Payment matching
DVA runs payment matching in one data-matching cycle each year, solely to confirm the validity of the checks and balances conducted currently within the department.
Income matching
DVA runs income matching in every cycle. Income discrepancies are selected during this process for further investigation.
Deselection of cases
There are no exclusions from data matching within the department. However, deselection is applied to ensure that the same discrepant case is not picked up in more than one cycle each year.
Analysis
Discrepant cases are analysed before any investigation is undertaken to ensure the integrity of the data provided, to identify areas for improvement of selection and to ensure all data-matching business rules are applied.
Investigations
All investigations of discrepancies involve examination of the client’s DVA electronic records and then, if necessary, hard-copy records. Any administrative errors are corrected at this stage without the need to contact the client.
If the discrepancy remains after the initial checking, the client is sent correspondence in accordance with section 11 of the Data-matching Act, requesting further information and documentation to assist with the investigation. Clients are given 28 days under this Act to comply, then a further seven days based on the Evidence Act 1995.
In cases where the initial investigation has revealed potential fraud, the investigator may use section 11(4), where a section 11 letter is not sent as it may prejudice the effectiveness of an investigation into the possible commission of an offence.
Based on the information provided by the client, the payment rate is corrected and, where appropriate, overpayments are calculated, raised and recovered.
Further information may be obtained from Commonwealth, state or territory governments or private agencies to help ascertain the correct client details.
The client’s right to privacy is protected at all times by application of the Australian Privacy Principles (under the Privacy Act 1988), which govern the collection, storage, use and disclosure of personal information.
Actions under the Data-matching Act
This section contains information required by paragraphs 9(i) and 9(vi) of the Data-matching Program (Assistance and Tax) Guidelines.
Table E1 details the discrepancies in the past three years 2018–19 and the ensuing actions.
Table E1: Actions under the Data-matching Act, 2016–17 to 2018–19
Discrepancies and actions |
2016–17 |
2017–18 |
2018–19 |
Total number of records read |
1,082,216 |
1,012,485 |
955,384 |
Matches that resulted in discrepancies1 |
7,930 |
6,387 |
5,885 |
Proportion of matches that resulted in discrepancies |
0.73% |
0.63% |
0.61% |
Number of discrepancies referred for investigation |
2,571 |
1,069 |
2,287 |
Number of discrepancies referred for investigation that resulted in a notice under section 11 of the Data-matching Act being sent |
147 |
127 |
128 |
Number of cases where the section 11 letter was followed up by action being undertaken2 |
131 |
105 |
105 |
Proportion of discrepancies that resulted in action being undertaken |
1.65% |
1.64% |
1.79% |
Proportion of discrepancies which did not proceed to action after a section 11 letter was sent |
10.88% |
17.33% |
17.70% |
Number of overpayments raised3 |
146 |
129 |
123 |
Cases where debt was fully recovered4 |
156 |
122 |
104 |
Number of pensions reduced |
122 |
93 |
87 |
Number of pensions cancelled or suspended |
23 |
19 |
20 |
Number of pensions that were continued |
56 |
37 |
48 |
Number of pensions that were increased |
9 |
21 |
20 |
1 Discrepancies include those resulting from detection of invalid tax file numbers, identity matching, payment matching and income matching. The number of discrepancies does not represent the number of pensioners: more than one discrepancy may be detected in respect of the same pensioner.
2 Refers to the action set out in section 10 of the Data-matching Act—a pension was reduced, cancelled, increased or continued.
3 Overpayments raised include some for cases where section 11 action took place in a previous financial year.
4 Figure includes debts fully recovered from previous financial years.
Prosecutions
Reviews of entitlement by the department may bring to notice cases where an offence may have been committed under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, the Social Security Act 1990, the Criminal Code Act 1995 or the Crimes Act 1914.
DVA's role in the prosecution process is to investigate cases where it appears an offence may have been committed and to forward these cases, if warranted, to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) for a decision as to whether prosecution action should proceed. Depending on the type of investigation required, a case may be referred to the Australian Federal Police for further investigation.
Any suspected fraud cases detected are referred to DVA's Fraud Investigation Unit for an initial case assessment, prioritisation and further action, if appropriate.
Where sufficient evidence is obtained from an investigation, the Fraud Investigation Unit makes recommendations to senior management on the appropriateness of referring the matter to the CDPP.
Table E2 details the prosecutions prompted by the Data Matching Program in the past three years.
Table E2: Prosecutions prompted by the Data Matching Program, 2016–17 to 2018–19
Cases |
2016–17 |
2017–18 |
2018–19 |
Cases referred to the Fraud Investigation Section identified through data matching |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Cases referred to the CDPP identified through data matching |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Successfully prosecuted |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Dismissed by the CDPP due to insufficient evidence or not in the public interest |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Cases with the CDPP pending consideration |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Cases still under investigation by Fraud Investigation Section |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Cases finalised by the Fraud Investigation Section without CDPP referral1 |
0 |
1 |
n/a |
CDPP = Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
1 Figures may include cases that were identified in previous financial years.
Costs and benefits
This section contains information required by paragraph 9(i) of the Data-matching Program (Assistance and Tax) Guidelines.
DVA's involvement in the program has shown substantial savings can be gained through comparison of data held by different agencies.
Expenses
Table E3 sets out the costs to DVA of operating the program in the past three years.
Table E3: Costs to DVA of operating the program, 2016–17 to 2018–19
Detail |
2016–17 ($) |
2017–18 ($) |
2018–19 ($) |
Salary costs |
93,051 |
95,914 |
97,650 |
Administrative overheads |
26,153 |
26,153 |
26,357 |
Support costs for data matching processing system |
1,547 |
1,578 |
1,720 |
TOTAL |
120,751 |
123,645 |
125,727 |
Projected savings
DVA calculates savings for clients whose payments are suspended, cancelled or reduced. For clients in receipt of a pension, it is assumed that they would have continued to receive the same rate of payment for 52 fortnights. These savings are in line with the methodology used by the Department of Human Services to calculate savings.
Tables E4 and E5 set out the pension adjustments resulting in projected savings; and the total savings achieved in the past three years. Table E6 shows savings achieved through the program in the past three years.
Table E4: Pension adjustments resulting in projected savings, 2016–17 to 2018–19
Pension adjustments |
2016–17 |
2017–18 |
2018–19 |
Number of pensions reduced |
122 |
93 |
87 |
Number of pensions suspended/cancelled |
23 |
19 |
20 |
Total |
145 |
112 |
107 |
Table E5: Total savings achieved through the Data Matching Program, 2016–17 to 2018–19
Detail |
2016–17 |
2017–18 |
2018–19 |
Number of pensions cancelled/ reduced/ suspended1 |
145 |
112 |
107 |
Number of potential overpayments identified2 |
102 |
83 |
81 |
Number of overpayments raised3 |
146 |
129 |
123 |
Number of debts fully recovered |
156 |
122 |
105 |
Value of overpayments raised |
$997,939 |
$959,980 |
$834,065 |
Debts waived or written off |
$12,586 |
$15,658 |
$33,610 |
Subtotal |
$985,353 |
$944,322 |
$800,455 |
Value of projected savings |
$766,222 |
$673,369 |
$643,262 |
Total gross savings |
$1,751,575 |
$1,617,691 |
$1,443,717 |
Departmental expenses |
$120,751 |
$123,645 |
$125,727 |
Net Savings |
$1,630,824 |
$1,494,046 |
$1,317,990 |
1 The number of cases that result in projected savings. Although a person’s pension may be cancelled, reduced or suspended, an overpayment may not necessarily exist.
2 Where a case officer believes there may be an overpayment, a potential debt identifier is registered. The figure reflects the number of potential debts identified.
3 The discrepancy between the number of overpayments identified and the number of overpayments raised is due to several factors:
- Where a potential overpayment has been identified, further investigation may result in a determination that no debt existed.
- Debts may be raised and consequently recovered separately for both members of a couple.
- Overpayments raised during each financial year may have been identified in previous financial years.
Table E6: Cumulative savings achieved through the Data Matching Program, 2016–17 to 2018–19
Detail |
2016–17 ($) |
2017–18 ($) |
2018–19 ($) |
Value of overpayments raised |
997,939 |
959,980 |
834,065 |
Debts waived or written off |
–12,586 |
–15,658 |
–33,610 |
Value of projected savings |
766,222 |
673,369 |
643,262 |
Total gross savings |
1,751,575 |
1,617,691 |
1,443,717 |
Departmental expenses |
–120,751 |
–123,645 |
–125,727 |
Net savings |
1,630.824 |
1,494,046 |
1,317,990 |
Cumulative net savings |
32,162,915 |
33,656,961 |
34,974,951 |
Note: For full explanation of previous years’ savings, this table should be read in conjunction with previous data-matching annual reports.
Visit
https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/department-veterans-affairs/reporting-year/2018-2019-57