Comment by bsder

> Why would you assume that all groupings of people commit welfare fraud at the same rate?

Because the goal is NOT just wiping out fraud, but, instead, minimizing harm or possibly maximizing positive results.

Minimizing fraud is super easy--just don't give out any benefits. No fraud--problem solved.

That's not the final goal, though. As such, the ideal amount of fraud is somewhere above zero. We want to avoid falsely penalizing people who, practically be definition, probably don't have the resources to fight the false classification. And we want to minimize the amount of aid resources we use policing said aid.

The goal is to find a balance. Is helping 100 people but carrying 1 fraudster a good tradeoff? Should it be 1000? Should it be 10? Well, that's a political discussion.