A law to crack down on financial assistance fraud was passed with all-party support in the Senate yesterday.

Cheating has been on the rise since 2004 with 87 cases last year and around $100,000 being recouped by investigators.

Dishonesty includes lying about assets including bank deposits and property, lying about income or employment and falsifying medical forms.

The Department of Financial Assistance even found claimants who were taking trips abroad while pleading poverty.

Junior Social Rehabilitation Minister Thaao Dill said the bill would stop those caught out from immediately reapplying for assistance.

There will be a three-month wait on the first occasion, a six-month wait on the second and a year's wait on the third.

Sen. Dill said that cases would be properly investigated, particularly in the case of elderly people, to make sure innocents didn't lose out.

And he said Financial Assistance did its best to make sure the homeless got cash — even if they don't have identification.

Money management classes will also be starting soon to teach clients self sufficiency.

Opposition Senator Jeanne Atherden expressed hope Government was open to having more investigators to deal with the case load. Sen. Dill said this was being looked at.