Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2017 to 2018 estimates
Final estimates of fraud and error levels in the benefit system in Great Britain in the financial year 2017 to 2018.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
Documents
Details
This report provides final estimates of fraud and error levels in the benefit system in Great Britain for the financial year 2017 to 2018.
The main points from the report are:
- 2.2% of total benefit expenditure was overpaid due to fraud and error
- the estimated value of overpayments is £3.8 billion
- the net government loss, after recoveries, is £2.8 billion, or 1.6% of benefit expenditure
- 1.1% of total benefit expenditure (or £1.9 billion) was underpaid due to fraud and error
Send any comments or questions about the fraud and error estimates to: [email protected].
Interactive information and charts
Use DWP’s online tool to explore the fraud and error statistics.
You can also access DWP’s fraud and error statistics using StatXplore.
More information
The final estimates on this page replace the archived preliminary 2017 to 2018 estimates published in May 2018.