Society & Welfare

Official figures show the low level of benefit fraud

24th February 2012 — Filed under: Society & Welfare

Richard Exell Richard Exell

Today’s DWP report on Fraud and Error in the Benefit System really ought to get more coverage. With this publication we now have figures for the whole of the financial year 2010/11, and they show:

  • 0.8% of benefit spending is overpaid due to fraud, amounting to £1.2 billion, and
  • This proportion is the same as in 2009/10.

If we look at the estimates for different benefits, they are:

  • Retirement Pension 0.0%;
  • Incapacity Benefit 0.3%;
  • Disability Living Allowance 0.5%;
  • Council Tax Benefit 1.3%;
  • Housing Benefit 1.4%;
  • Pension Credit 1.6%;
  • Income Support 2.8%;
  • Jobseeker’s Allowance 3.4%;
  • Carer’s Allowance 3.9%.

Look at the figures for disability benefits, see how low the figures are. Remember them next time the BBC is running one of its 30 minute hate programmes, pushing the idea that every disabled person on benefits is a fraudster.

 

3 Responses to Official figures show the low level of benefit fraud

  1. Trackback made by The real cost of benefit fraud « Ffeirio Journal on Mar 7th 2012 at 10:03 pm:

    [...] Look at the figures for disability benefits and see how low the figures are. Remember them next time the BBC is running one of its 30 minute hate programmes, pushing the idea that every disabled person on benefits is a fraudster.From Richard Exell’s touchstone blog. [...]

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  3. Comment made by esperanza torres on Apr 10th 2012 at 12:26 am:

    yeah i totally agree. im fed up with the bbc and mainstream media’s hate campaign against benefit claimants. i know someone with m.e who doesnt get any support or recognition by their GP despite having a hospital diagnosis. Now they fail the work capability assessment but all their friends know that they are not fit enough to work! this system stinks. theres people so poor on the meagre benefits they give , they cant afford to eat or heat thier homes. the govt doesnt care if they all die slowly from the cold or malnutrition. will it take someone to suicide themselves outside 10 downing st?
    these benefit cuts kill. this govt have blood on their hands. this govt are murderers