Astonishing levels of benefit fraud

MPs on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said the level of fraud and error in benefits expenditure was ‘unacceptably’ high, with the DWP overpaying an ‘eye-watering’ £6.5bn in fraud payments.

During the pandemic, fraud and error rose to 'historic levels' across the benefits system, reaching an estimated 7.6% (£8.5bn) overpayment rate across all benefits, excluding the state pension in 2021-22, compared with 4.7% (£4.4bn) in 2019-20.