MP demands answers over welfare fraud
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EAST Runcorn MP Mike Amesbury has pressed for answers over issues with the Government’s flagship universal credit (UC) welfare programme.
Mr Amesbury raised the issue of claimants being scammed into paying cash to fraudsters praying on the financially vulnerable via a scam involving applications for advance payments.
The question followed an investigation by the BBC, which found that con artists were persuading claimants to apply for UC and then splitting the advance payment with them.
Victims have then discovered that the cash is a loan that they must repay in full over 12 months.
Mr Amesbury put the question to Work And Pensions Secretary Thérèse Coffey, and received a response from Guy Opperman, work and pensions minister, who told him via a written answer that an assess
● ment takes place to work out whether a claimant needs to pay back the advance and that they do not have to repay the money if they are found to be innocent.
Mr Opperman said changes had been brought in to protect claimants in September.
The Daily Mirror reported on October 16 that the number of fraud referrals relating to the scam has ‘exploded’ from 42,000 to 85,000 since July, branding the situation an ‘industrial-scale scam’.
The Department For Work And Pensions (DWP) told the Weekly
News it did not know how many claimants have been affected in Halton.
A DWP spokesman said: “We take advances fraud extremely seriously, which is why we’ve dedicated a new team of 145 full time staff to crack down on callous crooks exploiting vulnerable people.
“Fraud investigations are often complex but we’ll continue to pursue cases until justice is served.
“In addition, we’ve introduced safeguards to protect claimants, ensuring they must have an appointment with Jobcentre staff before receiving their first payment.”
Mr Amesbury also asked if Thérèse Coffey, Work And Pensions Secretary, had assessed whether the six-month period for when claimants work commitments are reduced due to bereavement is adequate.
Will Quince, work and pensions minister, responded in writing and did not answer the question but explained what the bereavement easement system involves.