The new Labour Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has been urged to reintroduce mandatory face-to-face assessments for four key Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits. The demand follows the release of figures showing that benefit cheats cost taxpayers £226 million in the year to March, much of it linked to claimants living overseas while still receiving payments.
Fraud losses by benefit type
According to DWP estimates, Universal Credit losses totalled £103 million, followed by Pension Credit at £67 million, Housing Benefit at £29 million, and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at £27 million. Additionally, around 2,000 individuals are legally claiming PIP while living abroad full-time under treaties with European Economic Area nations.
Political pressure mounts
Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: “This could be cut down if the DWP brought back face-to-face meetings. People on benefits like Universal Credit should be looking for work.” His comments were directed at Burnham, who now leads the Labour government.
Robert Jenrick, the Reform UK candidate for a future chancellorship, claimed Britain was approaching a “breaking point” and pledged to reduce welfare spending to allow for tax cuts. “The country cannot continue on this path,” Reform argues, pointing to official forecasts showing welfare spending rising in the coming years.
Jenrick added: “John Healey is another establishment politician that has spent his career supporting more welfare spending. The country is now at breaking point. Unless this problem is fixed, the benefits bill is set to bankrupt Britain and force taxes even higher. Reform UK will restore fairness to our benefits system by reinstating in-person assessments and the two child benefit cap, so we can lower taxes on hard-pressed families. We will fight Burnham’s coming tax assault every step of the day. If he wants to raise taxes even higher, he should call a general election and see what the British people make of it.”
Government response
A Treasury spokesperson said: “So far this week the Chancellor has cut tax on electricity bills and cut business rates on pubs; paid for by changing where taxpayer money will be spent, including scrapping digital ID and using funds from the department for energy and net zero. This is the way to build a new economy.”
A DWP spokesman said: “We’re determined to crack down on fraud. Our latest figures show us fraud and error has fallen by a quarter since its 2022 peak. We will leave no stone unturned.”
The calls for tougher assessments come as the government faces pressure to control welfare spending while balancing its economic agenda. The debate over face-to-face assessments remains contentious, with critics arguing that they can be burdensome for legitimate claimants, while supporters insist they are essential to prevent fraud.
