DWP Urged to Address Staff Errors in Benefit Fraud Crackdown
The Department for Work and Pensions has been urged to target staff mistakes in a crackdown on fraud and error, amid multi-billion-pound losses. This call comes from watchdog MPs on parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, who argue that not enough work is being done to reduce official errors at the DWP.
Focus on Official Error
In a recent report, the committee highlighted that the DWP’s analysis has primarily focused on claimant error and fraud, neglecting the significant issue of staff mistakes. The report stated, “We expect the department to take official error as seriously as it does claimant error and fraud, given the large amounts of money involved and the fact that reducing this error is largely within its own control.”
Committee chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown emphasized the urgency, saying, “Our report finds beyond doubt that current ambitions to address unacceptable levels of benefit fraud and error are not stretching enough. More could be done on a cross-government basis to improve the accuracy of benefit payments, and the department has not yet taken a proper look in the mirror to address official error rather than focusing entirely on claimants.”
Longstanding Issue
Sir Geoffrey added that this marks the 37th year in which the DWP’s accounts have been qualified by the UK’s chief auditor due to material levels of fraud and error. He warned, “We are just three years away from what would be a sad and embarrassing milestone. Urgent action must be taken per our recommendations for the DWP to have something to celebrate in the years to come.”
The committee also recommended that the DWP include a “more stretching ambition for reducing the overpayment rate” in its formal response, demonstrating cost-effective controls over benefit spending.
DWP Response
A DWP spokesperson responded, stating, “We have introduced major reforms to ensure people are paid the correct benefits, to recover overpayments and to help save billions of pounds for the taxpayer. We are forecasting an ambitious reduction in fraud and error levels to 2.8% by 2028-29, the lowest level since tax credits were introduced in 2003-4.”
The spokesperson also noted that only 0.4% of the overall benefit spend is overpaid due to official error, highlighting ongoing efforts to address the issue.
