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1452238

	registered interest
	date	17/03/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to reduce levels of fraud and error in universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Runnymede and Weybridge
	tabling member printed	Dr Ben Spencer
	uin	142090
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2022 answer text <p>We take any case of fraud and error extremely seriously and actively pursue fraudsters, using a wide range of powers to bring them to justice.</p><p>Last Autumn we announced a significant increase in our investment in Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt operations by 75%, up to £1.4bn over the next three years. We are using this to scale up our existing operations, enhance our approach to data and intelligence and set up a new targeted review of the Universal Credit (UC) caseload. This will generate billions of savings over the scorecard period.</p><p>We published figures in the DWP Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 that showed the estimated rate of fraud and error in Universal Credit was 14.5%, up from 9.4% in 2019/20.</p><p>These estimates are based on in depth reviews of a random sample of around 3,000 Universal Credit cases (taken between February and November 2020) to establish the extent of Fraud and Error. The level of fraud and error found in this sample is then applied to the 2020-21 Universal Credit expenditure to give our overall estimate<strong>.</strong> During the early months of the pandemic we faced unprecedented levels of claims, with 2.4 million new UC claims between 1 March and 26 May 2020. We took a decision to implement easements to ensure we could prioritise payments to those who needed help during this difficult time. This meant that although the overall level of fraud and error in Universal Credit across the year was 14.5%, the subset of claims made after the pandemic started had a level of 25.6%. Claims prior to the pandemic remained at a level of 9.4%. This detailed analysis indicates that the total overpayment for fraud and error for claims from the start of the pandemic (in 2020/21) was £3.1 billion, of which £1.1billion being overpaid due to incorrect information about self-employed income.</p><p>It is regrettable that people may have sought to exploit the extraordinary circumstances of a global pandemic for gain by not reporting changes in circumstances or even making false claims. This is particularly true for bogus claims orchestrated by organised criminals.</p><p>During the pandemic, we were able to detect and shut down systematic attacks on the benefit system, including preventing £1.9bn from an attack from Organised Criminals in May 2020. We removed the easements as early as possible from June 2020 and introduced new processes, including a new Enhanced Checking Service created in April 2020, comprising a team of trained investigators who review claims and contact claimants in order to obtain further information or evidence where there is suspected fraud. In total we estimate that we have prevented nearly £3bn of additional fraud and error.</p><p>Our rigorous checks to prevent fraud are now back in place and the new targeted UC case reviews funded as part of the £1.4bn investment will be focused on relentlessly pursuing and finding incorrect claims and driving out the Fraud and Error. We are determined to combat all attempts at fraud and will not hesitate to pursue those who exploit the system when benefits are there to support those most in need.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fraud-and-error-in-the-benefit-system-financial-year-2020-to-2021-estimates" target="_blank">Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2020 to 2021 estimates - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 142103 question first answered 21/03/2022 17:26:00 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4785 label Biography information for Dr Ben Spencer

1452189

	registered interest
	date	17/03/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to reduce levels of fraud and error in universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	North Devon
	tabling member printed	Selaine Saxby
	uin	142103
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2022 answer text <p>We take any case of fraud and error extremely seriously and actively pursue fraudsters, using a wide range of powers to bring them to justice.</p><p>Last Autumn we announced a significant increase in our investment in Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt operations by 75%, up to £1.4bn over the next three years. We are using this to scale up our existing operations, enhance our approach to data and intelligence and set up a new targeted review of the Universal Credit (UC) caseload. This will generate billions of savings over the scorecard period.</p><p>We published figures in the DWP Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 that showed the estimated rate of fraud and error in Universal Credit was 14.5%, up from 9.4% in 2019/20.</p><p>These estimates are based on in depth reviews of a random sample of around 3,000 Universal Credit cases (taken between February and November 2020) to establish the extent of Fraud and Error. The level of fraud and error found in this sample is then applied to the 2020-21 Universal Credit expenditure to give our overall estimate<strong>.</strong> During the early months of the pandemic we faced unprecedented levels of claims, with 2.4 million new UC claims between 1 March and 26 May 2020. We took a decision to implement easements to ensure we could prioritise payments to those who needed help during this difficult time. This meant that although the overall level of fraud and error in Universal Credit across the year was 14.5%, the subset of claims made after the pandemic started had a level of 25.6%. Claims prior to the pandemic remained at a level of 9.4%. This detailed analysis indicates that the total overpayment for fraud and error for claims from the start of the pandemic (in 2020/21) was £3.1 billion, of which £1.1billion being overpaid due to incorrect information about self-employed income.</p><p>It is regrettable that people may have sought to exploit the extraordinary circumstances of a global pandemic for gain by not reporting changes in circumstances or even making false claims. This is particularly true for bogus claims orchestrated by organised criminals.</p><p>During the pandemic, we were able to detect and shut down systematic attacks on the benefit system, including preventing £1.9bn from an attack from Organised Criminals in May 2020. We removed the easements as early as possible from June 2020 and introduced new processes, including a new Enhanced Checking Service created in April 2020, comprising a team of trained investigators who review claims and contact claimants in order to obtain further information or evidence where there is suspected fraud. In total we estimate that we have prevented nearly £3bn of additional fraud and error.</p><p>Our rigorous checks to prevent fraud are now back in place and the new targeted UC case reviews funded as part of the £1.4bn investment will be focused on relentlessly pursuing and finding incorrect claims and driving out the Fraud and Error. We are determined to combat all attempts at fraud and will not hesitate to pursue those who exploit the system when benefits are there to support those most in need.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fraud-and-error-in-the-benefit-system-financial-year-2020-to-2021-estimates" target="_blank">Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2020 to 2021 estimates - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 142090 question first answered 21/03/2022 17:26:00 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4863 label Biography information for Selaine Saxby

1361426

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2021
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to (a) identify and (b) investigate universal credit claims in the event that multiple claims are being paid to the same bank account.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	58799
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2021 answer text <p><strong>COVID-19 saw an unprecedented surge in Universal Credit claims, demanding an extraordinary response from DWP to ensure the welfare safety net continued to catch all those in urgent need.</strong><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Whilst a small number of people deliberately misrepresented their circumstances or looked to exploit our response to the pandemic, the verification of claimants’ identities </strong><strong>remains at the core of our checks and we quickly introduced new and robust verification </strong><strong>procedures following initial easements. Face to face interviews are now being re-established, subject to the latest COVID-19 advice.</strong><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Where fraud does occur, the Department takes the issue extremely seriously. Our Integrated Risk and Intelligence Service coordinates the detection of, and response to, fraud risks from organised crime groups, detecting and shutting down systematic attacks. Last year, this led us to suspend 152,000 Universal Credit claims and prevented £1.9 billion in benefits from being paid to people trying to scam the system.</strong></p><p><strong>Identity fraud is a complex issue, and it is not always possible to be definitive about every case, but our Enhanced Checking Service and our Serious Organised Crime teams disrupted or corrected over 298,000 claims (including the 152,000 mentioned above) in 2020-21.</strong><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>We are not able to describe the robust processes we have in place, as to do so may compromise the effectiveness of our operations. However, DWP continues to work across Government to address this issue.</strong><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Where citizens allege that their identity has been used to make a fraudulent claim for Universal Credit, DWP considers each case on its own merits. Decisions are made on the strength of the evidence provided. If a claimant has been the victim of a scam, and has not benefited from it in any way, they will not be held liable for any debt. In these cases, we will seek to recover any losses from the perpetrator of any fraud.</strong></p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 58796 question first answered 28/10/2021 16:23:19 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1348730

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2021
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure fraudulent universal credit claims are (a) identified and (b) reported as soon as possible.
	tabling member constituency	Southport
	tabling member printed	Damien Moore
	uin	36743
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2021 answer text <p>DWP takes fraud and error very seriously and it should be noted that, during a period when we have faced the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19, fraud and error in the benefits system remains low, with 95% of benefits, worth more than £200bn. paid correctly in 2020/21.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that a small percentage of Universal Credit claims made during COVID-19 are in payment incorrectly and we are now re-visiting those cases which have the highest residual risk of incorrectness. Any overpayments will be pursued and where fraud is a factor, we will consider formal action.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to invest in fraud and error prevention, with the Chancellor announcing £44m at the Spring Budget to support the expansion of both our Integrated Risk and Intelligence Service and our new Enhanced Checking Service and the development of Transaction Risking as a means of identifying high risk claims.</p><p> </p><p>Our work with other Government departments and law enforcement agencies, both nationally and across borders, helps ensure appropriate intelligence and resources are shared,</p><p>enabling the totality of any criminality to be identified and investigated.</p><p> </p><p>Our Annual Report and Accounts published on 15 July 2021 provides more information on what we are doing to prevent fraud from occurring: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-annual-report-and-accounts-2020-to-2021" target="_blank">DWP annual report and accounts 2020 to 2021</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 26/07/2021 12:34:07 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4669 label Biography information for Damien Moore

1258910

	registered interest
	date	07/12/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the letter of 21 November 2020 from the Permanent Secretary to the Work and Pensions Committee, how many cases of universal credit identity hijack have been referred to the Stolen Identity Team since 24 June 2020.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	125937
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2020 answer text <p>As at 8 December 2020, the total number of suspected cases of Universal Credit identity hijack referred to the Stolen Identity Team since 24 June 2020 was 5,894.</p><p> </p><p>The vast majority of benefit expenditure is paid correctly, with front line staff working hard to prevent incorrect and fraudulent payments. We are constantly improving our processes and continue to use data to identify fraud and better target our investigations.</p><p> </p><p>The Department continues to take fraud seriously, and will continue to challenge people who seek to abuse the system, employing the full range of penalties at its disposal.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 10/12/2020 17:59:00 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1258908

	registered interest
	date	07/12/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her letter of 20 July 2020 to the Work and Pensions Committee, how many cases of universal credit identity hijack her Department (a) has investigated since October 2018 and (b) is currently investigating.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	125936
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2020 answer text <p>In terms of UC Advances cases where an individual’s identity has been hijacked, we have investigated a significant number of potential or alleged UC Advances frauds and to date have found 36 cases where the person had been a genuine victim of hijacked id. Other cases are still in the process of being investigated. We cannot provide details of any potential identity frauds as the outcomes (of each case) cannot be pre-determined.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Cyber Resilience Centre within the Department for Work and Pensions thwarted attempts made to defraud the Government of an estimated £1.7bn through organised criminal attacks on the Universal Credit system.</p><p> </p><p>The Department was able to intervene on around 133,000 linked fraudulent claims and prevent the vast majority from being paid. Some claims received an advance or progressed to payment, but were subsequently detected and payments stopped immediately, with less than £50 million paid out in total.</p><p> </p><p>These claims used hijacked identities, but the identities were not stolen from the Department. Of the attempted fraudulent claims only a very small minority used the identities of existing benefit claimants. Where existing claims have been affected, the Department has reinstated the original claim.</p><p> </p><p>All figures used in this response are correct as of 20 November 2020.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 10/12/2020 17:58:33 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1241297

	registered interest
	date	07/10/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support victims of universal credit scams.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry North East
	tabling member printed	Colleen Fletcher
	uin	100430
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/10/2020 answer text <p>The Department takes this issue very seriously and we continue to look across government and beyond to tackle benefit fraud.</p><p> </p><p>In June, the Department launched a new process for claimants who allege that without their participation or knowledge, their identity has been used to make a fraudulent claim for Universal Credit. Where this is found to be the case, the Department will consider reinstatement of relevant legacy benefits and/or tax credits.</p><p> </p><p>The Department considers each case on its own merits and decisions are made on the strength of the evidence provided.</p><p> </p><p>If a claimant has been the victim of a scam, and has not benefited from it in any way, they will not be held liable for any debt. In these cases, we will seek to recover any losses from the perpetrator of any fraud.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 12/10/2020 15:51:32 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4378 label Biography information for Colleen Fletcher

1219796

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2020 to PQ 62300 on Universal Credit: Fraud, at what stage her Department's investigations into cases of universal credit scams for claimants in the Borough of Halton are; and when those claimants will have their benefits restored.
	tabling member constituency	Halton
	tabling member printed	Derek Twigg
	uin	67552
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2020 answer text <p>The Department does not store information at a constituency level. As a result, providing the requested information would incur disproportionate costs.</p><p> </p><p>If an individual approaches DWP alleging they have had their identity fraudulently used, we will investigate the matter. We endeavour to ensure that these investigations are brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible.</p><p> </p><p>Where a person has had their details used to make a fraudulent claim for Universal Credit, the Department may consider the reinstatement of legacy benefits where it is clear they played no part in the making of the claim.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/07/2020 16:11:09 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	429 label Biography information for Derek Twigg

1215989

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, at what stage his Department's investigations into cases of universal credit scams for claimants in Halton constituency are; and when those claimants will have their benefits restored.
	tabling member constituency	Halton
	tabling member printed	Derek Twigg
	uin	62300
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2020 answer text <p>The Department does not hold this data by constituency and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 25/06/2020 15:26:58 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	429 label Biography information for Derek Twigg

1176774

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many fraudulent cases of universal credit advance were (a) recorded and (b) processed at Jobcentres in (i) Preston, (ii) Blackburn, (iii) Blackpool and (iv) Bolton; what the value was of those fraudulent claims; and how much each claimant had to repay as a result of a fraudulent claim made on their behalf by a third party in the last two years.
	tabling member constituency	Preston
	tabling member printed	Sir Mark Hendrick
	uin	13420
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2020 answer text <p>I estimate that providing the information you request would incur disproportionate costs.</p><p> </p><p>However, let me assure you that the Department takes this issue very seriously. We have set up a dedicated team to investigate this type of fraud and are proactively addressing it by using messaging on social media to remind people of the importance of safeguarding their identity, as well as shutting down social media sites that promote this fraud.</p><p> </p><p>We have also made changes to the Universal Credit advance application process. Universal Credit claimants who wish to apply for a new claim advance are now required to attend a face to face interview. This change will help protect claimants from identity fraud and becoming victims of third party scams.</p><p> </p><p>If a claimant has been the victim of a scam, and has not benefited from an advance in any way, they will not be asked to repay it. In these cases, we will seek recovery from the perpetrator of the scam. The Department considers all cases on their own merits and decisions are made on the strength of the evidence provided.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 14/02/2020 12:40:00 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick