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Fraud, error and other incorrectness in disability living allowance - new DWP report

A Department for Work and Pensions review of disability living allowance (DLA) was carried out in 2004 to estimate of the level of accuracy/inaccuracy present in DLA assessments. These findings have now been published in a report – “Fraud, Error and other Incorrectness in Disability Living Allowance”.

The report states that 9.1 per cent (£730 million ) of the benefit paid on DLA was overpaid and 2.5 per cent (£200 million) was underpaid. This was due mainly to claimants failing to notify changes in circumstances to the Department. Few underpayments or overpayments arose from fraud or official error.

Overpayments

Of the 9.1 per cent (£730 million ) of DLA overpaid:

• 7.8 per cent (£630 million) was due to changes in circumstances
• 0.8 per cent (£60 million) was due to official error
• 0.5 per cent (£40 million) was due to fraud

Underpayments

Of the 2.5 per cent (£200 million) of DLA underpaid:

• 2.4 per cent (£190 million) was due to changes in circumstances
• 0.1 per cent (£10 million) was due to official error

A copy of the report can be downloaded from the link below.

More information

• fraud, error and other incorrectness in disability living allowance - link to report

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