Tackling Housing Benefit Fraud and Error

The Department for Work & Pensions needs to do more to get to grips with tackling Housing Benefit fraud and error.

A PAC report found that the amount of money that was overpaid to recipients of the benefit reached £1.4 billion in 2013/14 with £400m going underpaid.

The Department must take action now to strengthen incentives for local authorities to tackle claimant error and fraud. They must also develop a clearer understanding of fraud and error at the local level and target major areas of loss.

If you would like to read the report, you can do so by clicking here.

Meg is an active member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which oversees the spending of the Government to ensure it is authentic and effective.