Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much universal credit has been overpaid in each year since roll-out began; and how much of that overpayment has been recoverable.

The preliminary statistics for 2015-16 estimate the levels of fraud and error overpayments in Universal Credit at £36 million. These statistics are available in the public domain:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fraud-and-error-in-the-benefit-system-financial-year-201516-preliminary-estimates

Final 2015-16 statistics will be published in November 2016.

Due to the nature of the Universal Credit caseload over 2015-16 we do not expect these preliminary statistics to be representative of the eventual Universal Credit steady-state. This was the first time that levels of fraud and error have been measured for Universal Credit as it is a new benefit; we will learn lessons and consider additional strategies as appropriate.

When Universal Credit is fully rolled out, the government expects to save about £1bn each year through reduced fraud and error and increased ability to monitor changes in income.

All Universal Credit overpayments are recoverable.