- Select a language for the TTS:
- UK English Female
- UK English Male
- US English Female
- US English Male
- Australian Female
- Australian Male
- Language selected: (auto detect) - EN
Play all audios:
OVER £1 BILLION OF INCORRECT UNIVERSAL CREDIT PAYMENTS WERE STOPPED BY THE DWP. 12:13, 22 May 2025 The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has blocked BILLIONS worth of Universal Credit
payments- in a bid to "protect" people from fraud. Over £1 billion of incorrect Universal Credit payments were stopped by the DWP. The drive to block incorrect payments have been
significantly ramped up by the Labour Party government since last summer. Overpayments can ultimately lead to financial difficulties for claimants by causing them to fall into debt. The
number of claim reviews will continue to ramp up now the department has reached its staff target, with nearly 6,000 staff to review claims with forecasted savings of £13.6 billion by 2030.
READ MORE UK FACES 27C HEATWAVE NEXT WEEK WITH 33 COUNTIES IN ENGLAND SET TO SIZZLE Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western, said: "This target could not have been reached without
this significant boost to staffing numbers – meaning we now have forecasted savings of £13.6 billion by 2030. Article continues below "This is a vital programme not only ensuring
overpayments are corrected but also makes certain people who are being underpaid receive the money they are entitled to. We will not tolerate fraud, error or waste and are committed to
safeguard taxpayers’ money so it can be invested in the public services we all deserve." Since July 2024, the DWP has significantly increased the number of people working in the team.
Under the scheme, evidence is requested to enable any unreported changes in circumstances to be detected and correct claims where needed. Like any other benefit review undertaken by the
department, it can lead to a referral to the Counter Fraud Team should fraud be suspected. It was was an initiative announced in May 2022 in the former Government’s publication, Fighting
Fraud in the Welfare System and is delivered by the Universal Credit Claim Review. Article continues below When the Labour Party won last year's election, it inherited the team from the
Conservative Party, which was led by Rishi Sunak at the time.
