The Control of Sickness Benefit Claims

So soon after the coming into operation of the National Insurance Act as August 1913 it was thought desirable to set up a departmental committee to enquire into the alleged excessive claims upon Approved Societies in respect of sickness benefit. That committee reported in July 1914 but, as immediately afterwards the War broke out, it was not possible to give effect to its findings and recommendations for some years. The committee in general terms reported that, notwithstanding the difficulties involved in bringing the Act into operation, the machinery of administration had been working as smoothly as could reasonably have been anticipated, that officials of Approved Societies had shown zeal in promoting the prosperous working of the Act, and that in general the medical profession had brought to their work a desire to do their best for their patients. The committee also found that there was little if any evidence of fraud on the part of insured persons, or of deliberate malingering, but considerable evidence of a tendency to take the utmost advantage of the benefits under the Act, to claim for trivial complaints, and to prolong unduly the period for which members remained on the funds, especially during periods of unemployment.