Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 35
35
DWP dissatisfied with slow reduction in UC overpayments despite forecast improvements and efforts.
Conclusion
DWP pointed us to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s statement forecasting welfare trends alongside the 2024 Autumn Budget, which showed overpayments in UC returning to below pre–pandemic levels in the 63 Qq 55-56 64 Autumn Budget 2024, para 4.109 65 Q 58 66 Qq 58-60 16 period to 2030.67 Nevertheless, DWP said that overpayments had not come down as quickly as it had wanted and it was not satisfied with the current position. As it had done in previous evidence sessions, it noted that, as it acted to drive down fraud and error, the “headwinds” in terms of a greater propensity for fraud in society at large pushed it back the other way.68 Using machine learning to identify potential fraud
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 6 May 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗