More than £1billion in incorrect Universal Credit (UC) payments
have been blocked by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
in a drive to stop people falling into financial difficulties.
The milestone was reached after a programme to review payments
was ramped up last summer, with more than one million cases now
looked at.
Overpayments can ultimately lead to financial difficulties for
claimants by causing them to fall into debt.
The ‘Targeted Case Review' was introduced in 2022 to detect
incorrect payments, with around 25,000 claims reviewed in the
first year.
Since July 2024, DWP has nearly doubled the number of people
working in its UC Targeted Case Review team.
This significant increase in staff has boosted the number of
existing claims reviewed to over one million, saving £1 billion
in incorrect payments by detecting historic errors and preventing
future overpayments that can result in debts accruing.
The number of claim reviews will continue to ramp up now the
department has reached its staff target, with nearly 6,000 staff
to review claims with forecasted savings of £13.6 billion by
2030.
Minister for Transformation, , said:
“This target could not have been reached without this significant
boost to staffing numbers – meaning we now have forecasted
savings of £13.6 billion by 2030.
“This is a vital programme not only ensuring overpayments are
corrected but also makes certain people who are being underpaid
receive the money they are entitled to.
“We will not tolerate fraud, error or waste and are committed to
safeguard taxpayers' money so it can be invested in the public
services we all deserve.”
The ‘Targeted Case Review' team reviews payments to prevent
customers falling into or accumulating further debt, identify
unreported changes in circumstances, correct claims
retrospectively, and refer suspected cases of fraud for
investigation.
Reviews verify claimants' eligibility for the benefits they
receive by sending a notification to their online account to
request proof of identity and other documentation.
In the Autumn Budget, the government committed to the
continuation of Targeted Case Review activity for a further two
years, with learnings used to prevent error from entering the
welfare system in the first place. This will help provide a fair,
high-quality service that ensures customers receive their full
entitlement and avoid unnecessary debt.
These major milestones come as the government outlines further
plans to strengthen our ability to reduce fraud and error through
the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill. This is
alongside its work to support people into work and become less
reliant on the benefit system to drive productivity and unlock
growth as part of its Plan for Change.
Notes to editors
- A breakdown of Targeted Case Review programme performance can
be found on GOV.UK:Targeted Case Review
Management Information - GOV.UK
- Targeted Case Review (TCR) was an initiative announced in May
2022 in the former Government's publication, Fighting Fraud in
the Welfare System and is delivered by the Universal Credit Claim
Review (UCR) team.
- Universal Credit (UC) Claim Reviews are not fraud
investigations and are not designed to detect attempts to
deceive. As part of a claim review, evidence is requested to
enable any unreported changes in circumstances to be detected and
correct claims where needed. This can include finding over and
under payments. Like any other benefit review undertaken by the
department, it can lead to a referral to the Counter Fraud Team
should fraud be suspected.
- A diligent approach has been maintained to ensure the
customer is supported throughout the review process with the
expectation that the service be adapted to address any early
signs of failings. The programme has been encouraged by the
number of examples of agents able to assist customers more
broadly than checking claim correctness. For example, signposting
to wider support to provide vital help when needed and
identifying customers not receiving the right level of Universal
Credit.
- Since July 2024, the DWP has significantly increased the
number of people working in the UC Targeted Case Review team –
recruiting a further 2,500 staff by February 2025 to reach the
target of 5,930.
