An Ancaster couple faces fraud charges after allegedly collecting $25,000 in undeserved welfare cheques over the past four years.

Hamilton police Detective Constable Randy Drumm of the major fraud squad said suspicions about the Ontario Disability Support Program payments were aroused when case workers noticed the couple had moved into an upscale address.

Located on Armour Crescent in the Meadowlands, the "gorgeous" home was assessed at $336,000 in each of the last two years, according to city tax records -- although police placed the current value in the $400,000 to $500,000 range.

Det. Drumm said his investigation found the husband was running a home construction business out the residence while claiming to have a disability that hampered his ability to earn an income.

The man also operated a franchise variety store in Stoney Creek during the four-year period, he said.

"I've gone to the house. It's gorgeous," Det. Drumm said. "I've met the individual. I've observed no disability that I could see outright."

Zein Oleiche, 44, faces three fraud-related charges, including for allegedly forging a document to obtain a mortgage for the home prior to moving in last year.

A charge of fraud over $5,000 against his wife Fida, 32, awaits her return from an undisclosed overseas location, where she is said to be vacationing with their four children.

"There's a certain amount of gall involved with this one," Det. Drumm said of the reasons for making the charges public.

"In order to qualify to receive ODSP benefits, the qualification is that they have special financial needs; their ability to earn income is restricted by their disability.

"And to be living in that type of home, with substantial equity in that home, would indicate otherwise."

Det. Drumm said the charges are among 54 social-benefit fraud cases presently before the courts involving $1.1 million in disputed payments.

He has a further 81 cases requiring investigation worth a further $1.5 million, he said.

Amounts in individual cases are "all over the map," he said, ranging from $5,000 to $200,000 -- the latter involving a woman who allegedly failed to disclose that she was living with a gainfully employed spouse for 10 years.

Her arrest earlier this year was not publicized, Det. Drumm said, because unlike the Ancaster couple, she "is somewhat financially marginalized."

"She did deceive," he said. "The legislation is that you have to make full disclosure of all income and all assets."

Hamilton police's lone welfare fraud investigator, Det. Drumm said he hopes to work his way through the outstanding list before he retires in two years.

But since new cases keep being added to the list, he acknowledges the backlog is likely to continue.

"My hope is to get that (81) caseload down to a very manageable number, but whether I do or not, we'll see," he said. "It's going to require a lot of hard work."