Fraud and error: DWP has wisely put more focus on prevention – now it must put its vision into practice
05 Nov Fraud, Error Debt & Grants

Fraud and error: DWP has wisely put more focus on prevention – now it must put its vision into practice

Extra funding for fraud and error activity, and lessons learned from its interventions to date, present DWP with opportunities to increase the scale and impact of its approach
by Laura Brackwell
Budget 2025: New public sector fraud unit announced
27 Nov Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Budget 2025: New public sector fraud unit announced
Budget: DWP tasked with finding more historic benefits errors
27 Nov Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Budget: DWP tasked with finding more historic benefits errors
Serious Fraud Office reignites move to Canary Wharf
19 Nov Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Serious Fraud Office reignites move to Canary Wharf
HMRC dubbed ‘cavalier’ over Child Benefit fraud crackdown
18 Nov Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
HMRC dubbed ‘cavalier’ over Child Benefit fraud crackdown
Perm sec JP Marks says department has now strengthened processes after "streamlining" led to errors
Serious Fraud Office prosecutor bags national award for high-profile casework
11 Nov Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Serious Fraud Office prosecutor bags national award for high-profile casework
Liz Collery was recognised at the Tackling Economic Crime Awards
Six sentenced over £20m HMRC fraud
21 Oct Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Six sentenced over £20m HMRC fraud
Department's "tenacious" criminal investigators dismantled "complex and sophisticated” system that allowed businesses to cheat VAT bills
Cabinet Office lauds 'biggest ever' fraud crackdown
24 Sep Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Cabinet Office lauds 'biggest ever' fraud crackdown
Minister Josh Simons describes the £480m saved in 2024-25 "the toughest ever crackdown on fraud"
Cabinet Office targets £350m savings from Child Benefit fraud
22 Aug Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Cabinet Office targets £350m savings from Child Benefit fraud
Pilot inspires creation of 200-strong team in clampdown on claimants who have left the country
CPS warns large organisations to prepare for new fraud offence
19 Aug Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
CPS warns large organisations to prepare for new fraud offence
Looming law change will make big business, charities and other organisations responsible for preventing fraud committed by employees
DWP reports benefit fraud ‘heading in right direction’
14 Jul Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP reports benefit fraud ‘heading in right direction’
Annual accounts show fraud-and-error rate dipped to 3.3% in 2024-25, down from 3.6% the previous year
Departments ‘must get better at using data analytics to combat fraud’
10 Jul Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Departments ‘must get better at using data analytics to combat fraud’
NAO says properly harnessing technology and taking a preventative approach could turn “modest” savings into “billions”
SR25: HMRC gets £1.7bn for big increase in compliance and debt management staff
12 Jun Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
SR25: HMRC gets £1.7bn for big increase in compliance and debt management staff
Department also gets £500m "to make HMRC a truly digital-first organisation"
HMRC loses £47m in ‘organised crime’ attack on customer accounts
05 Jun Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
HMRC loses £47m in ‘organised crime’ attack on customer accounts
Thousands of people are being told their accounts have been locked down over fraud fears
DWP taskforce hits £1bn savings milestone by spotting overpayments
27 May Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP taskforce hits £1bn savings milestone by spotting overpayments
Universal Credit Targeted Case Review team is projected to save £13.6bn by 2030 by correcting errors
Legal Aid Agency cyberattack: 'Large amount' of personal data exposed
19 May Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Legal Aid Agency cyberattack: 'Large amount' of personal data exposed
Agency takes digital service down after data including addresses and criminal records compromised