Fukui Prefecture Takes “administrative action” Over Fraudulent Claims of 7.95 Million Yen in Welfare Service Benefits for People with Disabilities

By Barrier Free Japan, extract from The Fukui Shimbun

December 14 2024

FUKUI – On December 13, Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture, took administrative action under the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act to revoke the designation of ‘MIRAI’, a Type B support for continuous employment support facility operated by Imakoko, a general incorporated association in the city, for fraudulently claiming and receiving approximately 7.95 million yen in disability welfare service benefits. The company is required to return approximately 11,140,000 yen, including additional payments, by the end of January next year. The revocation will take effect on March 1.

According to the city, the company falsified records of individual support plans prepared for 26 users between April 2021 and November 2023, and claimed that they were prepared for 26 users, even though no meetings were held. In addition, the company made false reports during a city audit.

The city’s operational guidance in February 2023 revealed that the meetings had not been held, and the company was demanded to return the benefit payments and make improvements. Subsequently, an audit in November of the same year revealed that the records were falsified, so the city retroactively investigated and punished the company.

As of November, the office was used by 20 people who live both in and outside of the city. The city instructed the facility to hear the wishes of the users and secure a new place to accept them before the disposition takes effect.