Fraud and error in the benefit system
Estimates of fraud and error levels in the benefit system in Great Britain.
These statistical reports provide estimates of fraud and error for benefits administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and local authorities.
Accompanying each estimate report, we also publish data tables that provide the user with detailed estimates by different types of fraud and error.
Statistical reports for the periods from 2006 to 2010 can be found in the National Archives.
Find future DWP fraud and error estimate release dates.
Please email us for feedback or more information: enquiries.fema@dwp.gov.uk
Next release
The next release of Fraud and error in the benefit system statistics will be published on 15 May 2025.
Changes to the next release
The following changes are minor updates and corrections following a full methodological review. These changes have a very small impact on overall Fraud and Error rates. FYE 2024 published figures will be restated to reflect these changes and allow for accurate comparisons to be made.
Further detail on these changes will be included in the Background Information and Methodology note that will be published alongside the FYE 2025 statistics.
Correction to incorrectness figures FYE 2024
In the FYE 2024 release, overpayments categorised as Not Reasonably Expected to Know on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) were incorrectly included in the incorrectness figures, overstating the proportion of DLA claims overpaid and the proportion of DLA claims that are incorrect. These overpayments will be excluded from the FYE 2025 figures and the FYE 2024 figures will be re-stated.
Non-Causal Link errors were incorrectly excluded from a subset of cannot review cases which understated the overall incorrectness figures. These errors will be included in the FYE 2025 figures and FYE 2024 figures will be re-stated.
Changes to New Case Factors
In the FYE 2024 benefit review process, the payment (and period) that the Official Error and the Claimant Error/Fraud check was carried out on was aligned for all benefits. To reflect this change, the New Case Factors have been aligned so that there is no difference to how they are carried out for Official Error and for Claimant Error/Fraud.
Living Together Fraud and Error Adjustments
Living Together Fraud and Errors are calculated by comparing the amount of benefit the claimant and the partner were getting before the review, to the amount they are eligible for post review. Where the claimant and the partner are on the same benefit, the claimant’s proportion of the start award will be used to more accurately calculate the value of fraud/error attributable to the claimant
Causal Link Non-Residency Fraud Adjustment
If during a review the claimant informs the department that they are no longer at the address, then it would be recorded as Causal Link Fraud since it is a change of circumstances reported due to the review. However, in some circumstances the claimant has no financial gain as their benefit was being paid directly to their landlord (which could be a private landlord, Housing Association or Local Authority depending on their accommodation). In these circumstances, the fraud will be re-categorised to Claimant Error.
Error Code Framework Adjustments
Following the annual review of the Error Code Framework there have been a small number of changes to the mapping of errors to error reason publication categories.
Change to Winter Fuel Payment Proxy Measure
Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) is now paid via passporting from Pension Credit, therefore, overpayments on WFP will only occur when the claimant is not entitled to Pension Credit. The proxy measure used to estimate levels of Fraud and Error on WFP has been changed to use the loss of entitlement rate on Pension Credit.
Latest report
Previous reports
Related publications
Supporting guides including technical appendices.
Updates to this page
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Updated the wording about changes to the next release explaining that the changes will have a very small impact on overall Fraud and Error rates.
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Added information about the next release of Fraud and error in the benefit system statistics and the changes that will happen.
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Added a link to the latest release of fraud and error in the benefit system statistics, for financial year 2023 to 2024 (estimates).
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Added 'Changes in the fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2023 to 2024 estimates: statistical notice update'.
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Added 'Changes in the fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2023 to 2024 estimates: statistical notice' to 'Related publications'.
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Added a link to the latest release of fraud and error in the benefit system statistics, for financial year 2022 to 2023 (estimates).
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Added a link to a statistical notice about changes in the next release of fraud and error in the benefit system statistics. The next release will be published on 11 May 2023.
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Added a link to the latest release of fraud and error in the benefit system statistics, for financial year 2021 to 2022 (estimates).
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Added a link to a statistical notice about changes in the fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2021 to 2022 estimates publication.
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Added a link to the latest release of fraud and error in the benefit system statistics, for financial year 2020 to 2021 (estimates).
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Added a link to the latest release of fraud and error in the benefit system statistics, for financial year 2019 to 2020 (estimates).
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Added a link to a statistical notice about changes in the fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2019 to 2020 estimates publication.
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Added a link to the latest release of Fraud and error in the benefit system statistics, for financial year 2018 to 2019 (estimates).
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Added final estimates for financial year 2017 to 2018.
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Added information about a consultation on proposed changes to the fraud and error in the benefit system statistics - the consultation closes on 16 September 2018.
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Added preliminary estimates for financial year 2017 to 2018.
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Added final estimates for financial year 2016 to 2017.
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Added preliminary estimates for financial year 2016/17.
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Added final estimates for financial year 2015 to 2016.
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Published preliminary estimates for financial year 2015 to 2016.
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Published final estimates for financial year 2014 to 2015.
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Published Fraud and error in the benefit system: publication strategy.
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Published 'Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2014/15 preliminary estimates'.
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Published final estimates for financial year 2013 to 2014.
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Published link to statistical notice advising statistics users of proposed changes to the publishing of fraud and error estimates for financial year 2013 to 2014.
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Published preliminary 2013/2014 estimates.
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Fraud and Error in the Benefit System: 2012/13 Estimates published
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Note added regarding next release - Estimates of Fraud and Error in the Benefit system 2012 to 2013 (Great Britain) will be published on 16 January 2014.
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Link added to supporting guides.
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First published.