DWP Fraud & Error figures 2013-14

Mersey_2

The DWP paid out £1.26 Billion in WTC & CTC in error or due to fraud in the year 2013-14.


This represented 4.2% of the £30 Billion spent on Working Tax Credits & Child Tax Credits, but was actually less than the previous year.

tomtontom

I doubt the DWP paid out anything in WTC & CTC, they are paid by HMRC.

rogerblack

A quick glance over these statistics showed some concerns.
For example - the major overpayment due to fraud or claimant error is shown as an undeclared partner.
But, this appears to be the bare figure of the overpayment.

If the claimants had claimed properly - not in error - then they would in many cases have been entitled to some WTC, which is not reflected in the statistics.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/431958/Child_and_Working_Tax_Credits_-_Error_and_Fraud_Statistics_2013_to_2014.pdf

Mersey_2

tomtontom wrote: »

I doubt the DWP paid out anything in WTC & CTC, they are paid by HMRC.

Ha always the pedant.


Well it comes out of the DWP budget - hence their Minister and Select Committee cover them - but yes, HMRC administer them until old claims migrate over to UC.

Icequeen99

Mersey wrote: »

Ha always the pedant.


Well it comes out of the DWP budget - hence their Minister and Select Committee cover them - but yes, HMRC administer them until old claims migrate over to UC.

Tax credits are not covered by a DWP Minister. They are covered by the Chancellor and the FST's team (the exchequer secretary has the brief for them)

IQ

Mersey_2

Hmm well the DWP Ministers respond to Qs on TCs, so I can only assume it must have changed since Gordon Brown introduced them and the advent of UC.


But I take your point that while neither the Chancellor or his team have a budget, in a way they cover all budgets, hence the clash between GO & IDS over the contents of next month's Budget.

Icequeen99

Mersey wrote: »

Hmm well the DWP Ministers respond to Qs on TCs, so I can only assume it must have changed since Gordon Brown introduced them and the advent of UC.


But I take your point that while neither the Chancellor or his team have a budget, in a way they cover all budgets, hence the clash between GO & IDS over the contents of next month's Budget.

I have been working in the tax credits world since they started and they have always been the responsibility of a HMRC person. They were under the remit of the FST originally.

IQ

Mersey_2

Ah ok, thanks. I assumed you just meant at the Civil Service level, as all of the Parliamentary replies I have looked up came from Lord Freud as a DWP Minister. But the report he produced - on tacking fraud & error in benefits & TCs - did have both a DWP & an HMRC logo on it.


Priti Patel MP's at DWP too (although her old job was Ex Sec so maybe that's why she answered a question about cuts to Tax Credits on tv earlier in the week).


The only person on defending them was a right wing think tank, the IEA.