Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Twenty-Sixth Report - Department of Work and Pensions Accounts 2019-20
Public Accounts Committee
HC 681
Published 18 November 2020
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Twenty sixth report from Session 2019-21 · published 25 Mar 2021
Recommendations & Conclusions
13
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Even before the impact of COVID-19 the Department had not yet delivered the value of...
Recommendation
Even before the impact of COVID-19 the Department had not yet delivered the value of savings on fraud and error on which the Business Case for Universal Credit was based.26 As these were intended to be annually recurring savings, every …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation to set annual targets for fraud and error reduction but states that due to the pandemic, it aims to publish an overall target for 2021-22 after baselining the current position, and will consider the viability of individual targets.
HM Treasury
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28
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
Evidence suggests that the amounts claimants owe from benefit overpayments, benefit advances and Tax Credits...
Conclusion
Evidence suggests that the amounts claimants owe from benefit overpayments, benefit advances and Tax Credits are all likely to increase further in 2020–21. The Department temporarily suspended most debt recovery in March 2020 and reintroduced the recovery of new overpayments …
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Government Response Summary
The government describes its various debt recovery methods and policies, including reduced deduction rates and new tools like 'Repay My Debt'. It commits to improving operational efficiency, using data analytics, and providing additional information on recovery options and outstanding debt in its annual report.
HM Treasury
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31
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
For a means tested benefit such as Universal Credit, people entitled to receive the benefit...
Conclusion
For a means tested benefit such as Universal Credit, people entitled to receive the benefit will be those in society with lower incomes and savings.64 The National Audit Office’s (NAO’s) recent study on Universal Credit: getting to first payment found …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees on the need to recover debt efficiently and outlines existing hardship provisions. It commits to exploring how financial data can identify vulnerable customers, working with colleagues on debt management findings, and delivering the 'Breathing Space' policy.
HM Treasury
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