‘Eye-watering’ £8.6bn overpaid in benefits

Fraud and error levels in benefits spending are unacceptably high, according to a watchdog, which said more must be done to get a grip on the billions being lost every year.

The Department for Work and Pensions overpaid an “eye-watering” £8.6billion in benefits in 2021-22, with £6.5billion of that down to fraud, said the public accounts committee.

“The department’s continued delay in establishing transparent forecasts and targets for reducing fraud and error is hindering Parliament and the public from being able to effectively monitor its progress or hold it to account for its performance,” the committee said in a report.