Comments

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) pays welfare benefits to around 23.7 million people across Great Britain. That figure includes 13m on the New or Basic State Pension - classed as a contributory benefit - and people claiming at least one DWP benefit. ‌

The recently published annual ‘Fraud and error in the benefit system’ report , which estimates how much money the Department has incorrectly paid in the 2024/25 financial year, either through overpayments or underpayments, indicates that £9.5 billion was overpaid to claimants, 3.3 per cent of the total benefits expenditure. ‌

This is down from £9.7bn (3.6%) in 2023/24. The total rate of benefit underpayments remained the same at £1.2bn (0.4%). ‌

READ MORE : DWP confirms stance on plans to means-test State

See Full Page