WIREDGOV

• benefit fraud stands at £1.2bn or 0.7% of expenditure
• claimant error overpayments were at 1.0% of expenditure or £1.6bn
• official error overpayments remained at their lowest rate of 0.5% of expenditure or £0.8bn

• Jobseeker’s Allowance dropped to 4.1% (£210m) of benefit expenditure – claimant error has dropped to 0.5% (£30m) and official error was at its lowest recorded level of 0.8% (£40m).
• Income Support has dropped from 4.4% (£310m) in 2011/12 to its lowest recorded level of 4.3% (£230m) in 2012/13
• Pension Credit was at 6.4% (£490m) of benefit expenditure – official error in Pension Credit reduced slightly whilst fraud and claimant error increased
• Housing Benefit was up to 5.1% (£1.2bn) – levels of fraud and official error have dropped but claimant error has risen to its highest recorded level at 3.3% or £780m

We are fixing the welfare system to stop errors and ensuring investigators have the resources to catch cheats.

The level of fraud and error in the benefits system is lower than 3 years ago, and only a small minority commit fraud, but we are determined to continue the battle. This year we expect a record number of prosecutions.

The public play a vital role in our efforts to crack down on benefit fraud and error. We urge anyone who suspects someone of cheating the system to report this to the benefit fraud hotline

If your circumstances have changed, make sure that you tell the authorities before any overpayments get out of hand or to make sure you are receiving your full entitlement.

• started the national rollout of Universal Credit, which is expected to reduce fraud by £1billion in 5 years when it is fully in place across the country
• made greater use of Proceeds of Crime Act powers to take fraudsters back to court to confiscate assets, force them to repay stolen benefits or face prison
• introduced new tougher measures to deter fraudsters including penalties of up to £2,000 without being taken to court
• reduced official error in the benefits system for Jobseeker’s Allowance, Housing Benefit, Income Support and Pension Credit overpayments

• launching a new fraud and error advertising campaign urging people to report suspected benefit fraud or changes to their circumstances that may affect their claim
• starting to link benefits with PAYE tax systems using the Real Time Information system to enable benefit teams to see almost immediately if a claimant is lying about working
• introducing a single Fraud and Error Service from April 2014, which will bring together DWP’s existing fraud investigation and customer error teams into a stronger service
• introducing single fraud investigations from this summer, so that investigations into Tax Credits, Housing Benefit and other DWP benefits can be carried out by a single investigator which will improve efficiency and fairness

• 4.3%, or £230m, of Income Support expenditure (£5.5bn) was overpaid
• 4.1%, or £210m, of Jobseeker’s Allowance expenditure (£5.2bn) was overpaid
• 6.4%, or £490m, of Pension Credit expenditure (£7.6bn) was overpaid
• 5.1%, or £1,220m, of Housing Benefit expenditure (£23.7bn) was overpaid
• 1.3%, or £70m, of Income Support expenditure (£5.5bn) was underpaid
• 0.4%, or £20m, of Jobseeker’s Allowance expenditure (£5.2bn) was underpaid
• 2.3%, or £180m, of Pension Credit expenditure (£7.6bn) was underpaid
• 1.6%, or £380m, of Housing Benefit expenditure (£23.7bn) was underpaid.