National statistics

Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2017 to 2018 estimates

Final estimates of fraud and error levels in the benefit system in Great Britain in the financial year 2017 to 2018.

From:
Department for Work and Pensions
Published
6 December 2018

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Fraud and error in the benefit system: final 2017 to 2018 estimates

Ref: ISBN 978-1-78659-114-2

PDF, 2.95 MB, 14 pages

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Tables: Fraud and error in the benefit system, final 2017 to 2018 estimates

ODS, 313 KB

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Background information: Fraud and error in the benefit system statistics

Ref: ISBN 978-1-78659-115-9

PDF, 1.41 MB, 38 pages

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Details

This report provides final estimates of fraud and error levels in the benefit system in Great Britain for the financial year 2017 to 2018.

The main points from the report are:

  • 2.2% of total benefit expenditure was overpaid due to fraud and error
  • the estimated value of overpayments is £3.8 billion
  • the net government loss, after recoveries, is £2.8 billion, or 1.6% of benefit expenditure
  • 1.1% of total benefit expenditure (or £1.9 billion) was underpaid due to fraud and error

Send any comments or questions about the fraud and error estimates to: caxtonhouse.femaenquiries@dwp.gsi.gov.uk.

Interactive information and charts

Use DWP’s online tool to explore the fraud and error statistics.

You can also access DWP’s fraud and error statistics using StatXplore.

More information

The final estimates on this page replace the archived preliminary 2017 to 2018 estimates published in May 2018.

Published 6 December 2018

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