Overpayments of benefit

Updated annual figures show that the amount of benefit that is deemed to be lost due to fraud and error is just over £1.4 billion. However, the figure for underpaid benefit not claimed by those who need and deserve it is £1.6 billion.

Despite this government has no plans to encourage those claimants who are underpaid benefit to claim the correct amount and strict limits are imposed on making backdated claims for those who have missed out.