Accredited official statistics

Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2020 to 2021 estimates

Estimates of fraud and error levels in the benefit system in Great Britain in the financial year 2020 to 2021.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Published: 13 May 2021

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Fraud and error in the benefit system for financial year ending 2021

Ref: ISBN 978-1-78659-329-0

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Tables: Fraud and error in the benefit system, 2020 to 2021 estimates (XLS)

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 294 KB

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Tables: Fraud and error in the benefit system, 2020 to 2021 estimates (ODS)

ODS, 174 KB

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Background information: Fraud and error in the benefit system statistics

Ref: ISBN 978-1-78659-330-6

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Details

This report provides estimates of fraud and error levels in the benefit system in Great Britain for the financial year 2020 to 2021.

The main points from the report are:

• 3.9% of total benefit expenditure was overpaid due to fraud and error
• The estimated value of overpayments was £8.4 billion
• 1.2% of total benefit expenditure (or £2.5 billion) was underpaid due to fraud and error
• The net government loss, after recoveries, was £7.6 billion, or 3.6% of benefit expenditure

This year’s estimates have been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic – see the full report for details.

Send any comments or questions about the fraud and error estimates to: [email protected].

Published 13 May 2021