DWP measures to prevent PIP benefit fraud of payments worth £750 a month

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared some of the steps it is taking to tackle claims of Personal Independence Payment ().

The confirmed - under both the Tory and Labour governments - that it was "committed" to tackling fraud within the system. This year, the Labour government announced a major shake-up to the UK's main , PIP, and shared further measures on how it would clamp down on fraud within the benefit system.

PIP is paid to people with long-term mental or physical health conditions or disabilities. PIP is not an out of work benefit, the aim of it is to help with the extra financial costs which come with medical conditions and disabilities. Unlike other benefits, you can also get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.

In a previous written question, Conservative MP Sir John Hayes asked the benefti department what steps it was taking to “tackle people fraudulently claiming PIP”.

In response, Andrew Western, minister and Labour MP for Stretford and Urmston, said: "DWP is committed to tackling fraud and error in the benefits system and to the recovery of debts, including those generated by PIP."

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He also noted that the department was "working closely" with counter fraud experts to recover debts and had already introduced measures to "prevent fraud entering the system" based on the types of cases and trends it had seen. This included

• Strengthening the Identity and Verification Process to prevent fraudulent cases from entering the system
• Introducing more rigorous checks for customers changing personal details, including bank accounts
• Delivering awareness sessions for Case Managers and Healthcare Professionals, reinforcing action to take when suspicious cases are identified - for example, fake documents

He added: “DWP is delivering against key counter fraud activity, including investing in counter fraud professionals and building data analytical capabilities. The new Fraud, Error and Debt Bill will bring forward new measures to tackle fraud in the system."

There are currently around 3.6 million people who claim PIP in the UK. According to figures from the DWP for the financial year ending 2024, PIP fraud stood at 0%, while Disability Living Allowance (DLA) fraud stood at 0.1%, which was rounded to £0million.

PIP overpayments stood at 0.4%, which is the equivalent of £90million lost in a year. That is compared to 1.1% - or £200million - in the financial year ending 2023. According to the data, the majority of overpayments happened because of errors where the claimant did not report a change in their needs. Only one in 100 PIP claimants was overpaid.

For DLA, the overpayment rate was 0.5% or £30million in the financial year ending 2024. Around 0.2% was due to claimant error, mainly because claimants failed to report that they were admitted to or care homes. The next DWP fraud and error report is due to be published later this month.

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