Jobless Man’s Moroccan Getaways Cost Him $8,500 in Benefits

According to the decision of the Supreme Court, the 52-year-old unemployed person permanently loses this right and will have to reimburse 8,509 euros to the SEPE. He is accused of having made four trips to Morocco without informing the Service in advance. A violation of the regulations in force considered as serious and repeated. The regulations relating to this allowance require any beneficiary to report any trip abroad, even for periods of less than 15 days. Any offender can lose this right and be required to reimburse the amounts received since the first unauthorized trip.

The person concerned invoked "particular and exceptional family circumstances", but did not provide any supporting documents. This is why the SEPE decided to suspend the allowance, after conducting its investigations. The Service realized that the person concerned had made four trips to Morocco without warning, continuing to receive this aid. As a result, the SEPE demanded the reimbursement of the 8,509 euros that he had improperly received.

Dissatisfied with this decision, the beneficiary appealed to the social court, which ruled in favor of the SEPE. He has also just been dismissed by the Supreme Court, which has confirmed the decision of the social court, supporting that the decision of the SEPE is in accordance with the law. Ultimately, the courts have ordered the permanent cancellation of the allowance and the reimbursement of the amounts improperly received by the beneficiary.