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Select Committee · Public Accounts Committee

Tackling fraud and error in benefit expenditure 2024-25

Status: Open Opened: 10 Jul 2025 14 recommendations 16 conclusions 1 report

In 2023-24, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spent £268.5bn on benefit and pension payments. That same year, the National Audit Office (NAO) reported that benefit overpayments by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) were at £9.7bn, their highest ever level in cash terms, with the majority of overpayments accounted for by Universal …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
66th Report - Tackling fraud and error in benefit expenditu… HC 1231 11 Feb 2026 30 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
1 Conclusion 66th Report - Tackling fraud and error … Not Addressed

Committee scrutinises DWP evidence on tackling benefit fraud and error expenditure

On the basis of two reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General (the C&AG), we took evidence from the Department for Work and Pensions (the Department) on tackling fraud and error in benefit expenditure.1

Government response. The government's response rejects an unspecified recommendation related to fraud and error reduction targets and cost-effective control environments, stating it cannot accept it until a position is agreed with the NAO, and highlights ongoing efforts and achievements in reducing fraud …
HM Treasury
16 Conclusion 66th Report - Tackling fraud and error … Not Addressed

Targeted benefits increase complexity and risk of fraud and error

In many instances, Parliament has targeted benefits to claimants’ needs and circumstances, with the aim of ensuring that resources are used efficiently. However, this can introduce complexity and increase the risk of fraud and error.29

Government response. The government restates the committee's conclusion without providing a response.
HM Treasury
19 Conclusion 66th Report - Tackling fraud and error … Not Addressed

DWP's modernisation programme seeks to extend digital fraud prevention to other benefit platforms.

The Department’s modern digital systems for Universal Credit have made it easier to implement fraud and error prevention measures for this benefit.33 We asked the Department what it was doing to improve the digital platforms for other benefits, so it could introduce similar initiatives in other areas. The Department noted …

Government response. The government response is a restatement of the committee's conclusion.
HM Treasury
28 Conclusion 66th Report - Tackling fraud and error … Not Addressed

Independent review found DWP's incorrect guidance caused systemic Carer's Allowance overpayment issues.

The Independent Review of Carer’s Allowance Overpayments, published in November 2025, found that the prevalence of overpayments related to earnings had been caused not by widespread individual error by carers in reporting their earnings, but by systemic issues preventing them from fulfilling their responsibility to report. This included the Department’s …

Government response. The government restates the committee's conclusion without providing a response.
HM Treasury

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
4 Dec 2025 Neil Couling CBE · Department of Work and Pensions, Sir Peter Schofield KCB · Department for Work and Pensions, Vikki Knight · Department of Work and Pensions View ↗

Correspondence

6 letters
DateDirectionTitle
21 May 2026 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Work and …
12 Mar 2026 To cttee Letter from the Director General Public Spending at HM Treasury relating to the…
2 Feb 2026 To cttee Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions rel…
8 Jan 2026 To cttee Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions rel…
8 Jan 2026 To cttee Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions rel…
4 Dec 2025 To cttee Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Work and Pensions rela…