Fraud and error: DWP has wisely put more focus on prevention – now it must put its vision into practice
05 Nov 2025 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
Cross-government report shows quadrupling of detected fraud and error in two years
18 Feb Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Cross-government report shows quadrupling of detected fraud and error in two years
DWP urged to target staff mistakes in fraud-and-error crackdown
18 Feb Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP urged to target staff mistakes in fraud-and-error crackdown
Culture change at DWP too slow, committee chair warns
06 Feb Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Culture change at DWP too slow, committee chair warns
Why new Treasury rules on estimating fraud and error could help drive savings
07 Feb 2025 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Why new Treasury rules on estimating fraud and error could help drive savings
New Treasury guidance requires that departments report on the total level of loss across their programmes. Here's why it matters and how the NAO can help
Treasury sets out scope of new loan charge review
28 Jan 2025 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Treasury sets out scope of new loan charge review
Terms of reference for second review of HMRC's loan charge scheme published
Alive and kicking: Mark Cheeseman on achieving a 15-year-long aspiration in 2024
31 Dec 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Alive and kicking: Mark Cheeseman on achieving a 15-year-long aspiration in 2024
Public Sector Fraud Authority chief also discusses getting the right work-life balance and the rising fraud threat
Serious business – Nick Ephgrave explains why SFO’s cases ‘are in a league of their own’
25 Dec 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Serious business – Nick Ephgrave explains why SFO’s cases ‘are in a league of their own’
The Serious Fraud Office director also discusses the organisation's plan to improve efficiency
Carer's allowance overpayments review begins in earnest as debt hits £250m
16 Dec 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Carer's allowance overpayments review begins in earnest as debt hits £250m
Total overpayment debt still to be recovered has risen by nearly £100m since 2018-19, NAO report finds
Covid corruption commissioner appointed
03 Dec 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Covid corruption commissioner appointed
Rachel Reeves says money clawed back by anti-fraud commissioner will go back into public services
DWP flags 15,000 carer's allowance overpayments in six months
19 Nov 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP flags 15,000 carer's allowance overpayments in six months
Internal DWP stats show 50 carer's allowance debts of more than £10,000 have been logged in the first half of the year
How much fraud and error does government face today?
18 Nov 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
How much fraud and error does government face today?
NAO analysis of the impact of fraud and error on public funds shows the total has grown dramatically in the last two years
A guide to the counter-fraud profession and function
04 Nov 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
A guide to the counter-fraud profession and function
In this series, CSW provides a guide to professions and functions across the civil service. Each briefing looks at a different group, offering a glimpse at what they do and how they work with other parts of government
DWP and HMRC get Budget boost for more counter-fraud and tax-debt staff
31 Oct 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP and HMRC get Budget boost for more counter-fraud and tax-debt staff
£110m will fund fraud-and-error hiring drives in both departments, while HMRC also gets £262m for debt-management staff
‘It's such a fast-evolving area’: Government counter-fraud boss on a decade of leading the charge against economic crime
18 Oct 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
‘It's such a fast-evolving area’: Government counter-fraud boss on a decade of leading the charge against economic crime
Public Sector Fraud Authority chief executive Mark Cheeseman speaks to Tevye Markson about improving cross-government capability, tackling insider fraud and modernising counter-fraud work
DWP review to examine carer's allowance overpayments
16 Oct 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP review to examine carer's allowance overpayments
Liz Kendall says department is "determined to put this right" after thousands of carers were told to repay huge sums