Social Security Benefits: Fraud

(asked on 8th November 2023) - View Source
Questioner
Portrait
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
(Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many staff were employed in (1) 2021, (2) 2022, and (3) 2023, in roles which target fraud, error and debt across the benefit system.

Answered by
Viscount Younger of Leckie Portrait
Viscount Younger of Leckie
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 21st November 2023

Everyone in DWP has a role to play in stopping fraud and error.

In recent Spending Rounds we secured additional funding enabling us to enhance our counter-fraud and error capabilities including a new Targeted Case Review (TCR) team to review millions of Universal Credit claims, as well as recruitment into our Counter Fraud & Compliance Directorate (CFCD).

We are continuing to create a culture where stopping fraud and error and minimising debt is a shared goal of everyone in DWP and those who deliver services for us. All staff will understand the part they play within DWP, and they will have the knowledge, skills and tools they need to deliver.

Oct-21

Oct-22

Oct-23

CFCD/TCR staffing

7,410

9,240

10,260

Source: Derived from the Department’s Activity Based Model (ABM).

Notes:

  • Data is drawn at the end of each month. Data is correct as of the end of October in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and has been rounded to the nearest 10.
  • Figures were derived from the Department’s Activity Based Model (ABM), which provides Full Time Equivalent (FTE) figures based on point in time estimate by Line Managers. They cover only FTE of staff with paid employment. No overtime FTE is included.
  • The number of Fraud, Error and Debt staff is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal department use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics standard.

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