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<p>The Department takes benefit fraud very seriously and is taking a wide range of
steps to tackle fraud, as well as seeking to actively prevent it.</p><p>In addition
to having dedicated teams to investigate cases of suspected fraud, we continue to
invest in innovative measures to combat fraud, focussing wherever possible on preventing
it entering the benefit system in the first place.</p><p>To this end, the Department
successfully secured additional funding of £613m last year, recognising and supporting
the steps we have already made in tackling Fraud and Error, enabling us to make a
significant impact towards reducing levels of fraud and error in DWP, more effective
collection of debt and providing effective counter fraud operations on a larger scale.</p><p>In
particular, it will support the development of several new initiatives to:</p><ul><li>Drive
down the level of fraud and error in Universal Credit (UC) through a targeted review
of UC claims. This allows us to systematically review stock UC cases to immediately
uncover fraud and error and remove it from the system.</li><li>Target hard to collect
debt through the formation of a new Debt Enforcement Function.</li><li>Continue our
recruitment into the Counter Fraud and Compliance Directorate (CFCD) up to 9,500 FTE
so that we can continue to respond quickly and effectively to threats.</li></ul><p>
</p><p>Where fraud does enter the benefit system, we take action to recover the money
and apply appropriate penalties, including prosecution.</p>
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