Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Fraud and Error in the Benefit System

16 May 2024 · Department for Work and Pensions

Proposed by Paul Maynard Con Blackpool North and Cleveleys

Benefits & Welfare

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

View on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Key points

  • The annual statistics for fraud and error in the UK benefit system for the financial year ending 2024 are discussed in the statement.
  • The Government is updating its Fraud Plan to combat fraud and ensure accurate benefit payments.
  • Changes have been made to the classification and reporting of claimant error underpayments.

Issue summary

The statement discusses the annual statistics for fraud and error in the UK benefit system for the financial year ending 2024.

Action requested

The Government is updating its Fraud Plan, 'Fighting Fraud in the Welfare System: Going Further,' to take measures against fraud and ensure accurate payments. Changes have also been made to how claimant error underpayments are classified and reported.

Key facts

  • In 2023, fraud accounted for 37% of all crime against households.
  • The overall rate of overpayments in the benefit system is now 3.7%, or £9.7bn.
  • Overpayments due to fraud were 2.8% compared to 2.7% last year.
  • Universal Credit overpayment rate was 12.4% for 2023-24, down from 12.7% in 2022-23.
  • Total benefit expenditure underpaid in 2023-24 was 0.4%, or £1.1bn.
  • The total unfulfilled eligibility rate in 2023-24 is 1.2%, or £3.1bn.
▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy