Benefits fraud high

FRAUD and error levels in benefits spending are unacceptably high, according to a watchdog, which said billions of pounds are being lost every year.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) overpaid £8.6billion across benefits in 2021-22, with £6.5bn of that figure due to fraud, said the Public Accounts Committee. The department’s delays in establishing transparent forecasts for reducing fraud is hindering the public from being able to hold it to account the PAC said in a report.