National statistics

Fraud and error in the benefit system: preliminary 2013 to 2014 estimates

Preliminary 2013 to 2014 estimates of total overpayments and underpayments across the benefit system.

This publication was withdrawn on

We replaced these preliminary estimates with more up to date estimates of fraud and error in the benefit system on 6 November 2014.

Documents

National Statistics fraud and error in the benefit system: preliminary 2013/14 estimates (Great Britain) first release

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Fraud and error in the benefit system: preliminary 2013/14 estimates (Great Britain)

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Supplementary tables: Fraud and error in the benefit system, preliminary 2013/14 estimates (Great Britain)

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Infographic: Fraud and error in the benefit system: preliminary 2013 to 2014 estimates

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Info-bites (infographics): Fraud and error in the benefit system: preliminary 2013 to 2014 estimates

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Details

This National Statistics report has been published according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.

The report estimates fraud and error levels in the benefit system in Great Britain:

  • preliminary estimates for 2013 to 2014 find that 2.0% of total benefit expenditure was overpaid due to fraud and error, this has fallen from the 2012 to 2013 estimate of 2.1% due to the removal of Council Tax Benefit
  • the estimated value of overpayments is £3.3 billion, which is a fall from the 2012 to 2013 estimated value of £3.5 billion
  • preliminary estimates for 2013 to 2014 find that 0.9% of total benefit expenditure was underpaid due to fraud and error, which is the same as the 2012 to 2013 estimate
  • the estimated value of underpayments is £1.4 billion, which is a fall from the 2012 to 2013 estimated value of £1.6 billion because of the fall in expenditure

This is the first time we are publishing continuously measured estimates for fraud and claimant error in Employment and Support Allowance.

These statistics have been assessed by the UK Statistics Authority.

Additional information

If you have any comments, questions or any general queries regarding our publication, please email the Fraud and Error Measurement Analysis Team

Next release: November 2014

Published 15 May 2014
Last updated 23 May 2014 + show all updates
  1. Published 'info-bites' (infographics).

  2. First published.