Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Fraud and Error in Welfare System

Monday 11 July 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department published "Fighting Fraud in the Welfare System" in May to reduce fraud and error.
  • Department focuses on helping claimants find employment amid 1.3 million job vacancies.
  • Department works to improve accuracy in initial benefit assessments to reduce appeal cases.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 James Sunderland
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from the need to address fraud and error in the welfare system, impacting public funds.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to reduce the level of fraud and error in the welfare system. In May this year, we published “Fighting Fraud in the Welfare System”, which details our proposals for reducing fraud and error, including legislative change and closer working across Government.

Answer from David Rutley

In May this year, we published “Fighting Fraud in the Welfare System”, which details our proposals for reducing fraud and error, including legislative change and closer working across Government.

Partly answered

How: Legislative Change, Closer Working Across Government

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Q2 James Sunderland
Employment
Context

The question is prompted by the high employment and job vacancy rates in Bracknell, despite a below-average claimant rate.

Question

The claimant rate in Bracknell is way below the national average. My constituency enjoys high employment, but we still have lots of job vacancies. What steps is the Department therefore taking to ensure that the remaining claimants are helped into work?

Answer from David Rutley

With a record 1.3 million vacancies, our focus is not only on tackling fraud but on continuing to help people to get back into work and to progress in their careers. A multi-billion-pound plan for jobs will continue to help our constituents and people across the UK to find work and progress in employment.

Partly answered

How: Tackling Fraud, Multi-Billion-Pound Plan For Jobs

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Q3 Chris Matheson Lab
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question stems from a high number of errors in the initial assessment of benefits such as Personal Independence Payment, which are corrected upon appeal.

Question

With regard to DWP issues, one of the largest problems I see in my mailbag is people who go for assessed benefits, such as the personal independence payment, being turned down at the first stage, having to go to appeal and, in huge numbers, winning on appeal. Why are there so many errors in the assessment process?

Answer from David Rutley

I thank the hon. Member—another good Cheshire MP—for his question. We are working hard to make the right decisions first time, every time. All health professionals undertaking assessments on behalf of the Department must be registered practitioners who have also met requirements around training and competence. We are working hard to make sure that we can further improve the quality of those assessments with clinical coaching and monthly performance meetings.

Partly answered

How: Working Hard, Clinical Coaching

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