DWP reviewing six benefits for 'cases of fraud and error'

The DWP's latest report, Fraud and error in the benefit system, details overpayments and underpayments in the welfare system over the 2024 and 2025 financial year. It specifically called out six benefits with the department noting it will be "measuring sample cases from six benefits for 'unfulfilled eligibility' over the current financial year" according to the Daily Record for the next report due in May 2026.
These include:
Universal Credit
Housing Benefit
Pension Credit
State Pension
Personal Independence Payment
Disability Living Allowance for children
According to the recent report an estimated £9.5 billion was wrongly paid out by the Department through overpayments or underpayments, equating to 3.3% of the total benefits expenditure. This figure is a slight decrease from the previous year's £9.7 billion, which was 3.6%.
The DWP previously highlighted: "Sometimes people tell us the wrong information or do not tell us when their circumstances change. Reporting accurate information and providing evidence may change the amount of benefit people are eligible for and in some circumstances, they may be eligible for more money.
"However, we cannot calculate the correct amount unless people tell us accurately about their circumstances. This means that people are not eligible for increases in the amount of money they receive until we have the correct information.'
The DWP recognises three types of fraud and error, each with their own definition:
Fraud
These are claims where:
Unfulfilled eligibility
This is a claimant error, where an overpayment has occurred because the claimant has provided inaccurate or incomplete information. Or failed to report a change in their circumstances, but there is no evidence of fraudulent intent on the claimant's part.
Official Error

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The DWP's latest report, Fraud and error in the benefit system, details overpayments and underpayments in the welfare system over the 2024 and 2025 financial year. It specifically called out six benefits with the department noting it will be "measuring sample cases from six benefits for 'unfulfilled eligibility' over the current financial year" according to the Daily Record for the next report due in May 2026. These include: Universal Credit Housing Benefit Pension Credit State Pension Personal Independence Payment Disability Living Allowance for children According to the recent report an estimated £9.5 billion was wrongly paid out by the Department through overpayments or underpayments, equating to 3.3% of the total benefits expenditure. This figure is a slight decrease from the previous year's £9.7 billion, which was 3.6%. The DWP previously highlighted: "Sometimes people tell us the wrong information or do not tell us when their circumstances change. Reporting accurate information and providing evidence may change the amount of benefit people are eligible for and in some circumstances, they may be eligible for more money. "However, we cannot calculate the correct amount unless people tell us accurately about their circumstances. This means that people are not eligible for increases in the amount of money they receive until we have the correct information.' The DWP recognises three types of fraud and error, each with their own definition: Fraud These are claims where: Unfulfilled eligibility This is a claimant error, where an overpayment has occurred because the claimant has provided inaccurate or incomplete information. Or failed to report a change in their circumstances, but there is no evidence of fraudulent intent on the claimant's part. Official Error

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