North Macedonia discovers 4,500 fraudulent social assistance recipients

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has announced the discovery of over 4,500 fraudulent beneficiaries of guaranteed minimum assistance and social security in North Macedonia. Investigations revealed that state funds were being paid out to deceased individuals, displaced citizens, and fictitious persons.

Following field analyses and controls, the monthly payout amount has decreased by approximately 200 million denars compared to the same period last year. Mickoski estimated that annual expenditures for such improper payments ranged from 1 billion to 1.5 billion denars.

The ongoing audit is not yet complete, with one-fifth to one-sixth of the total beneficiaries still requiring verification. The Prime Minister noted that the financial impact of these controls is approximately 25 million euros annually. He indicated that future audits will extend beyond social security to other sectors, including healthcare, with the goal of redirecting saved funds toward capital investments.