In this section: Public finances

Benefit fraud, error and wrongly refused claims: both directions

Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. How each figure is worked out.

DWP estimates that 3.2% of benefit spending (£9.9bn) was overpaid in 2025-26, £6.8bn of it through fraud, and 0.4% (£1.2bn) underpaid through official error. A further £3.7bn was not paid because claimants did not give DWP information that would have raised their award. An estimated £2.1bn of Pension Credit went unclaimed in 2023-24. At tribunal, 59.7% of benefit appeals decided at a hearing in 2025-26 went in the claimant’s favour.

Figure as of 14 May 2026. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Work and Pensions, Ministry of Justice.

Key figures

£9.9bnOverpaid, 2025-26 (3.2% of spending) £9.4bn in 2024-25 As of 14 May 2026
£6.8bnOf which fraud, 2025-26 As of 14 May 2026
£4.9bnUnderpaid or not paid to people entitled, 2025-26 Official error plus unfulfilled eligibility As of 14 May 2026
£2.1bnPension Credit unclaimed, 2023-24 As of 30 October 2025
66.2%PIP appeals decided in the claimant’s favour at a hearing, 2025-26 As of 10 September 2026

Sources: Department for Work and Pensions, Ministry of Justice.

What is the short version?

Estimates, not prosecutions: fraud and error figures come from reviewing a sample of claims each year. They are not counts of people caught or convicted, which are shown separately.
Both directions: people are overpaid and underpaid, and some who are entitled never claim. All three are measured here on the same basis where DWP publishes it.
Appeals are a different measure: a decision changed at tribunal can reflect new evidence as well as a wrong first decision.

The four numbers side by side

For each of the main benefits: what DWP estimates was paid out through fraud, what it paid in error itself, what people were underpaid, and, where DWP estimates it, what people entitled to the benefit never claimed. Appeals are in the table under the chart.

Fraud, official error, underpayment and unclaimed money by benefit, 2025-26, £ million

Unclaimed amounts are DWP take-up estimates for 2023-24 and exist only for Pension Credit and pensioners’ Housing Benefit. Appeals decided in the claimant’s favour are in the table below: they are counted in decisions, not pounds.

The numbers behind this chart

Fraud, official error, underpayment and unclaimed money by benefit, 2025-26, £ million (£ million a year)
Item	Fraud	Official error (overpaid)	Underpaid (official and claimant error)	Unclaimed by people entitled
Universal Credit Details for Universal Credit	£5,420m	£610m	£1,640m	—
Official error (overpaid) £610m Underpaid (official and claimant error) £1,640m Unclaimed by people entitled —
Personal Independence Payment Details for Personal Independence Payment	£410m	£50m	£1,020m	—
Official error (overpaid) £50m Underpaid (official and claimant error) £1,020m Unclaimed by people entitled —
State Pension Details for State Pension	—	£60m	£440m	—
Official error (overpaid) £60m Underpaid (official and claimant error) £440m Unclaimed by people entitled —
Pension Credit Details for Pension Credit	£210m	£120m	£210m	£2,140m
Official error (overpaid) £120m Underpaid (official and claimant error) £210m Unclaimed by people entitled £2,140m
Housing Benefit Details for Housing Benefit	£460m	£60m	£170m	£880m
Official error (overpaid) £60m Underpaid (official and claimant error) £170m Unclaimed by people entitled £880m
Employment and Support Allowance Details for Employment and Support Allowance	£100m	£20m	£180m	—
Official error (overpaid) £20m Underpaid (official and claimant error) £180m Unclaimed by people entitled —

Figure as of 14 May 2026. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Work and Pensions.

By benefit: estimates for 2025-26 and appeals decided at a hearing
Benefit	Fraud	Official error, overpaid	Underpaid	Appeals won by the claimant
Universal Credit Details for Universal Credit	£5.4bn	£610m	£1.6bn	46.4% (6,672, 2025-26)
Official error, overpaid £610m Underpaid £1.6bn Appeals won by the claimant 46.4% (6,672, 2025-26)
Personal Independence Payment Details for Personal Independence Payment	£410m	£50m	£1.0bn	66.2% (32,888, 2025-26)
Official error, overpaid £50m Underpaid £1.0bn Appeals won by the claimant 66.2% (32,888, 2025-26)
State Pension Details for State Pension	not published	£60m	£440m	Not reported separately
Official error, overpaid £60m Underpaid £440m Appeals won by the claimant Not reported separately
Pension Credit Details for Pension Credit	£210m	£120m	£210m	Not reported separately
Official error, overpaid £120m Underpaid £210m Appeals won by the claimant Not reported separately
Housing Benefit Details for Housing Benefit	£460m	£60m	£170m	26.6% (238, 2025-26)
Official error, overpaid £60m Underpaid £170m Appeals won by the claimant 26.6% (238, 2025-26)
Employment and Support Allowance Details for Employment and Support Allowance	£100m	£20m	£180m	44.3% (948, 2025-26)
Official error, overpaid £20m Underpaid £180m Appeals won by the claimant 44.3% (948, 2025-26)

Overpayments and underpayments over time

Benefit overpaid and underpaid, % of spending, all benefits

DWP changed its methods over time, marked by breaks in its tables around 2020-21 as Universal Credit grew. Since 2022-23 underpayments caused by claimants are published separately as unfulfilled eligibility.

The numbers behind this chart

Benefit overpaid and underpaid, % of spending, all benefits (Per cent of benefit spending)
Year	Overpaid (fraud and error)	Of which fraud	Underpaid (official error)
2005-06 Details for 2005-06	2.1%	0.6%	0.4%
Of which fraud 0.6% Underpaid (official error) 0.4%
2006-07 Details for 2006-07	2.2%	0.6%	0.3%
Of which fraud 0.6% Underpaid (official error) 0.3%
2007-08 Details for 2007-08	2.0%	0.6%	0.4%
Of which fraud 0.6% Underpaid (official error) 0.4%
2008-09 Details for 2008-09	2.2%	0.8%	0.4%
Of which fraud 0.8% Underpaid (official error) 0.4%
2009-10 Details for 2009-10	2.2%	0.8%	0.3%
Of which fraud 0.8% Underpaid (official error) 0.3%
2010-11 Details for 2010-11	2.1%	0.8%	0.3%
Of which fraud 0.8% Underpaid (official error) 0.3%
2011-12 Details for 2011-12	2.1%	0.7%	0.3%
Of which fraud 0.7% Underpaid (official error) 0.3%
2012-13 Details for 2012-13	2.1%	0.7%	0.3%
Of which fraud 0.7% Underpaid (official error) 0.3%
2013-14 Details for 2013-14	2.1%	0.7%	0.3%
Of which fraud 0.7% Underpaid (official error) 0.3%
2014-15 Details for 2014-15	1.8%	0.8%	0.3%
Of which fraud 0.8% Underpaid (official error) 0.3%
2015-16 Details for 2015-16	1.9%	1.1%	0.4%
Of which fraud 1.1% Underpaid (official error) 0.4%
2016-17 Details for 2016-17	2.0%	1.2%	0.3%
Of which fraud 1.2% Underpaid (official error) 0.3%
2017-18 Details for 2017-18	2.2%	1.2%	0.4%
Of which fraud 1.2% Underpaid (official error) 0.4%
2018-19 Details for 2018-19	2.1%	1.1%	0.4%
Of which fraud 1.1% Underpaid (official error) 0.4%
2019-20 Details for 2019-20	2.4%	1.4%	0.4%
Of which fraud 1.4% Underpaid (official error) 0.4%
2020-21 Details for 2020-21	3.9%	2.9%	0.4%
Of which fraud 2.9% Underpaid (official error) 0.4%
2021-22 Details for 2021-22	4.0%	3.0%	0.5%
Of which fraud 3.0% Underpaid (official error) 0.5%
2022-23 Details for 2022-23	3.6%	2.7%	0.5%
Of which fraud 2.7% Underpaid (official error) 0.5%
2023-24 Details for 2023-24	3.6%	2.7%	0.4%
Of which fraud 2.7% Underpaid (official error) 0.4%
2024-25 Details for 2024-25	3.3%	2.2%	0.4%
Of which fraud 2.2% Underpaid (official error) 0.4%
2025-26 Details for 2025-26	3.2%	2.2%	0.4%
Of which fraud 2.2% Underpaid (official error) 0.4%

Figure as of 14 May 2026. Source: Department for Work and Pensions.

Overpaid and underpaid by benefit, 2025-26, % of spending on the benefit (95% confidence interval for the total)
Benefit	Overpaid	Fraud	Claimant error	Official error	Underpaid
All Benefits Details for All Benefits	3.2% (3.0% to 3.5%)	2.2%	0.6%	0.4%	0.4%
Fraud 2.2% Claimant error 0.6% Official error 0.4% Underpaid 0.4%
Universal Credit Details for Universal Credit	8.5% (7.7% to 9.4%)	6.8%	0.9%	0.8%	0.4%
Fraud 6.8% Claimant error 0.9% Official error 0.8% Underpaid 0.4%
State Pension Details for State Pension	0.2% (0.1% to 0.3%)	not published	0.1%	0.0%	0.3%
Fraud not published Claimant error 0.1% Official error 0.0% Underpaid 0.3%
Personal Independence Payment Details for Personal Independence Payment	2.3% (1.6% to 3.2%)	1.4%	0.7%	0.2%	0.2%
Fraud 1.4% Claimant error 0.7% Official error 0.2% Underpaid 0.2%
Housing Benefit Details for Housing Benefit	6.2% (5.6% to 6.8%)	3.6%	2.1%	0.5%	0.3%
Fraud 3.6% Claimant error 2.1% Official error 0.5% Underpaid 0.3%
Disability Living Allowance Details for Disability Living Allowance	0.9% (0.6% to 1.2%)	0.2%	0.3%	0.4%	2.3%
Fraud 0.2% Claimant error 0.3% Official error 0.4% Underpaid 2.3%
Pension Credit Details for Pension Credit	10.0% (8.8% to 11.3%)	3.5%	4.6%	2.0%	1.3%
Fraud 3.5% Claimant error 4.6% Official error 2.0% Underpaid 1.3%
Attendance Allowance Details for Attendance Allowance	2.2% (0.8% to 3.8%)	not published	1.9%	0.3%	0.1%
Fraud not published Claimant error 1.9% Official error 0.3% Underpaid 0.1%
Employment and Support Allowance Details for Employment and Support Allowance	3.4% (2.0% to 4.9%)	1.5%	1.6%	0.4%	1.1%
Fraud 1.5% Claimant error 1.6% Official error 0.4% Underpaid 1.1%
Carer's Allowance Details for Carer's Allowance	3.9% (1.3% to 6.5%)	2.5%	1.0%	0.5%	not published
Fraud 2.5% Claimant error 1.0% Official error 0.5% Underpaid not published
Jobseeker's Allowance Details for Jobseeker's Allowance	4.6% (2.0% to 7.1%)	3.1%	0.3%	1.2%	1.2%
Fraud 3.1% Claimant error 0.3% Official error 1.2% Underpaid 1.2%
Income Support Total Details for Income Support Total	3.9% (2.4% to 5.4%)	2.4%	1.0%	0.4%	0.3%
Fraud 2.4% Claimant error 1.0% Official error 0.4% Underpaid 0.3%
Incapacity Benefit Details for Incapacity Benefit	2.4% (1.1% to 3.7%)	0.3%	0.9%	1.2%	0.7%
Fraud 0.3% Claimant error 0.9% Official error 1.2% Underpaid 0.7%

Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Fraud and error in the benefit system, FYE 2026 estimates, published 14 May 2026; Department for Work and Pensions, Unfulfilled eligibility in the benefit system, FYE 2026 estimates, published 14 May 2026.

Child Benefit and tax credits (HMRC)

HMRC runs Child Benefit and ran tax credits until they closed in April 2025. Its annual statistics series on tax credits error and fraud ended with 2021-22; later figures are in its annual report.

Tax credits paid in error or through fraud, % of entitlement

The numbers behind this chart

Tax credits paid in error or through fraud, % of entitlement (Per cent of finalised entitlement)
Year	In the claimant’s favour	In HMRC’s favour
2006-07 Details for 2006-07	7.8%	1.7%
In HMRC’s favour 1.7%
2007-08 Details for 2007-08	9.0%	1.3%
In HMRC’s favour 1.3%
2008-09 Details for 2008-09	8.9%	1.1%
In HMRC’s favour 1.1%
2009-10 Details for 2009-10	7.8%	1.4%
In HMRC’s favour 1.4%
2010-11 Details for 2010-11	8.1%	0.8%
In HMRC’s favour 0.8%
2011-12 Details for 2011-12	7.3%	0.9%
In HMRC’s favour 0.9%
2012-13 Details for 2012-13	5.3%	0.5%
In HMRC’s favour 0.5%
2013-14 Details for 2013-14	4.7%	0.7%
In HMRC’s favour 0.7%
2014-15 Details for 2014-15	4.4%	0.6%
In HMRC’s favour 0.6%
2015-16 Details for 2015-16	4.8%	0.6%
In HMRC’s favour 0.6%
2016-17 Details for 2016-17	4.7%	0.7%
In HMRC’s favour 0.7%
2017-18 Details for 2017-18	5.5%	0.7%
In HMRC’s favour 0.7%
2018-19 Details for 2018-19	4.9%	0.7%
In HMRC’s favour 0.7%
2019-20 Details for 2019-20	5.3%	0.9%
In HMRC’s favour 0.9%
2020-21 Details for 2020-21	4.7%	0.8%
In HMRC’s favour 0.8%
2021-22 Details for 2021-22	4.5%	0.4%
In HMRC’s favour 0.4%

Figure as of 22 June 2023. Source: HM Revenue and Customs.

HMRC’s latest estimates, from its annual report
Measure	Estimate	Range	Year
Child Benefit overpaid through error and fraud Details for Child Benefit overpaid through error and fraud	2.0%	1.5% to 2.5%	2025-26
Range 1.5% to 2.5% Year 2025-26
Child Benefit overpaid through error and fraud Details for Child Benefit overpaid through error and fraud	£270m	£200m to £335m	2025-26
Range £200m to £335m Year 2025-26
Tax credits overpaid through error and fraud (the last year measured) Details for Tax credits overpaid through error and fraud (the last year measured)	4.2%	4.0% to 4.5%	2024-25
Range 4.0% to 4.5% Year 2024-25
Tax credits underpaid through error (the last year measured) Details for Tax credits underpaid through error (the last year measured)	0.8%	0.6% to 0.9%	2024-25
Range 0.6% to 0.9% Year 2024-25

Prosecutions and penalties: a separate count

The estimates above say how much money went to the wrong place. They are not counts of anyone caught. DWP reports the cases it took action on in its annual report:

DWP counter-fraud action
Measure	Number or amount	Year	Note
Benefit fraud cases judged suitable for prosecution by the CPS or Procurator Fiscal Details for Benefit fraud cases judged suitable for prosecution by the CPS or Procurator Fiscal	673	2025-26	Referrals accepted for prosecution, not convictions. From 13,081 claims reviewed by fraud investigators.
Year 2025-26 Note Referrals accepted for prosecution, not convictions. From 13,081 claims reviewed by fraud investigators.
Administrative penalties (an alternative to prosecution) Details for Administrative penalties (an alternative to prosecution)	68	2025-26	DWP is also removing and refunding 197 administrative penalties issued in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Year 2025-26 Note DWP is also removing and refunding 197 administrative penalties issued in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Civil penalties for failing to report a change or giving incorrect information Details for Civil penalties for failing to report a change or giving incorrect information	10,118	2025-26
Year 2025-26
Benefit debt recovered, all causes Details for Benefit debt recovered, all causes	£3.0bn	2025-26	68% through deductions from benefit. Debt owed to DWP was £11.6 billion in March 2026.
Year 2025-26 Note 68% through deductions from benefit. Debt owed to DWP was £11.6 billion in March 2026.

Underpayments found and repaid

Where DWP has found that it underpaid a group of people over years, it has run exercises to find them and pay arrears. These are counts of money actually repaid, not estimates.

Correction exercises and arrears paid
Exercise	Repaid	Period	Who and how many
State Pension underpayments repaid: married women, widows and people over 80 who were paid too little Details for State Pension underpayments repaid: married women, widows and people over 80 who were paid too little	£880m	January 2021 to March 2026	To about 135,000 pensioners. The exercise is closed. DWP's last progress release, to March 2025, counted 130,948 underpayments and £804.7 million.
Period January 2021 to March 2026 Who and how many To about 135,000 pensioners. The exercise is closed. DWP's last progress release, to March 2025, counted 130,948 underpayments and £804.7 million.
State Pension underpayments from missing Home Responsibilities Protection Details for State Pension underpayments from missing Home Responsibilities Protection	£111m	January 2024 to March 2026	About £104 million to 12,379 people to March 2025, and about £7 million more in 2025-26.
Period January 2024 to March 2026 Who and how many About £104 million to 12,379 people to March 2025, and about £7 million more in 2025-26.
Employment and Support Allowance underpayments after conversion from older benefits Details for Employment and Support Allowance underpayments after conversion from older benefits	£613m	Exercise completed June 2021	118,000 people qualified for arrears after 600,000 cases were checked.
Period Exercise completed June 2021 Who and how many 118,000 people qualified for arrears after 600,000 cases were checked.
Employment and Support Allowance underpayments of the severe disability premium Details for Employment and Support Allowance underpayments of the severe disability premium	£562m	Exercise completed by December 2025	44,900 awards.
Period Exercise completed by December 2025 Who and how many 44,900 awards.

Money left unclaimed

DWP estimates how many people entitled to Pension Credit and pensioners’ Housing Benefit do not claim, and what they miss. Estimates for Universal Credit are due for the first time on 22 October 2026.

Take-up and unclaimed entitlement, financial year ending 2024
Benefit	People entitled who claim	Entitled but not claiming	Unclaimed a year	Fraud in the same benefit
Pension Credit, 2023-24 Details for Pension Credit, 2023-24	62% (59 to 64)	820,000	£2.1bn (£1.8bn to £2.5bn)	£210m (2025-26)
Entitled but not claiming 820,000 Unclaimed a year £2.1bn (£1.8bn to £2.5bn) Fraud in the same benefit £210m (2025-26)
Housing Benefit (pensioners), 2023-24 Details for Housing Benefit (pensioners), 2023-24	85% (83 to 88)	190,000	£880m (£680m to £1.1bn)	£230m (2025-26)
Entitled but not claiming 190,000 Unclaimed a year £880m (£680m to £1.1bn) Fraud in the same benefit £230m (2025-26)

Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up, financial year ending 2024, published 30 October 2025.

Decisions changed on reconsideration or appeal

Someone refused a benefit can ask DWP to look again (a mandatory reconsideration) and then appeal to an independent tribunal. The share of decisions changed shows how often the first decision did not stand; it does not by itself show the first decision was wrong, because tribunals often see new evidence.

Benefit appeals decided at a hearing in the claimant’s favour, %

Ministry of Justice, April to June 2026. Scotland replaced PIP with Adult Disability Payment from 2022, whose appeals are not in these figures. The latest year can be revised.

The numbers behind this chart

Benefit appeals decided at a hearing in the claimant’s favour, % (Per cent of appeals cleared at a hearing)
Year	All benefits	Personal Independence Payment	Universal Credit	Employment and Support Allowance
2013-14 Details for 2013-14	39.5%	25.9%	0.0%	44.3%
Personal Independence Payment 25.9% Universal Credit 0.0% Employment and Support Allowance 44.3%
2014-15 Details for 2014-15	46.7%	50.0%	22.2%	54.4%
Personal Independence Payment 50.0% Universal Credit 22.2% Employment and Support Allowance 54.4%
2015-16 Details for 2015-16	55.1%	60.8%	43.6%	57.9%
Personal Independence Payment 60.8% Universal Credit 43.6% Employment and Support Allowance 57.9%
2016-17 Details for 2016-17	61.4%	65.0%	43.7%	65.3%
Personal Independence Payment 65.0% Universal Credit 43.7% Employment and Support Allowance 65.3%
2017-18 Details for 2017-18	64.5%	67.9%	48.6%	68.4%
Personal Independence Payment 67.9% Universal Credit 48.6% Employment and Support Allowance 68.4%
2018-19 Details for 2018-19	69.1%	73.2%	58.0%	72.9%
Personal Independence Payment 73.2% Universal Credit 58.0% Employment and Support Allowance 72.9%
2019-20 Details for 2019-20	72.0%	76.6%	64.1%	77.5%
Personal Independence Payment 76.6% Universal Credit 64.1% Employment and Support Allowance 77.5%
2020-21 Details for 2020-21	70.2%	75.9%	61.2%	75.7%
Personal Independence Payment 75.9% Universal Credit 61.2% Employment and Support Allowance 75.7%
2021-22 Details for 2021-22	61.3%	70.1%	47.6%	58.6%
Personal Independence Payment 70.1% Universal Credit 47.6% Employment and Support Allowance 58.6%
2022-23 Details for 2022-23	62.4%	69.2%	52.8%	52.5%
Personal Independence Payment 69.2% Universal Credit 52.8% Employment and Support Allowance 52.5%
2023-24 Details for 2023-24	63.5%	70.4%	53.4%	48.8%
Personal Independence Payment 70.4% Universal Credit 53.4% Employment and Support Allowance 48.8%
2024-25 Details for 2024-25	60.9%	69.1%	50.3%	47.8%
Personal Independence Payment 69.1% Universal Credit 50.3% Employment and Support Allowance 47.8%
2025-26 Details for 2025-26	59.7%	66.2%	46.4%	44.3%
Personal Independence Payment 66.2% Universal Credit 46.4% Employment and Support Allowance 44.3%

Figure as of 10 September 2026. Source: Ministry of Justice.

Benefit appeals received, by benefit

The numbers behind this chart

Benefit appeals received, by benefit (Appeals received)
Year	All benefits	Personal Independence Payment	Universal Credit	Employment and Support Allowance
2013-14 Details for 2013-14	401,896	1,017	7	232,630
Personal Independence Payment 1,017 Universal Credit 7 Employment and Support Allowance 232,630
2014-15 Details for 2014-15	112,082	20,899	86	43,136
Personal Independence Payment 20,899 Universal Credit 86 Employment and Support Allowance 43,136
2015-16 Details for 2015-16	157,145	61,529	719	56,110
Personal Independence Payment 61,529 Universal Credit 719 Employment and Support Allowance 56,110
2016-17 Details for 2016-17	228,604	104,205	1,686	87,857
Personal Independence Payment 104,205 Universal Credit 1,686 Employment and Support Allowance 87,857
2017-18 Details for 2017-18	238,803	112,746	6,308	87,308
Personal Independence Payment 112,746 Universal Credit 6,308 Employment and Support Allowance 87,308
2018-19 Details for 2018-19	195,506	104,652	11,696	49,813
Personal Independence Payment 104,652 Universal Credit 11,696 Employment and Support Allowance 49,813
2019-20 Details for 2019-20	162,101	94,745	23,578	20,998
Personal Independence Payment 94,745 Universal Credit 23,578 Employment and Support Allowance 20,998
2020-21 Details for 2020-21	93,303	64,075	11,812	2,867
Personal Independence Payment 64,075 Universal Credit 11,812 Employment and Support Allowance 2,867
2021-22 Details for 2021-22	95,058	58,333	16,473	4,696
Personal Independence Payment 58,333 Universal Credit 16,473 Employment and Support Allowance 4,696
2022-23 Details for 2022-23	137,212	92,242	23,712	5,835
Personal Independence Payment 92,242 Universal Credit 23,712 Employment and Support Allowance 5,835
2023-24 Details for 2023-24	136,903	89,380	25,290	6,163
Personal Independence Payment 89,380 Universal Credit 25,290 Employment and Support Allowance 6,163
2024-25 Details for 2024-25	132,965	85,070	25,280	4,716
Personal Independence Payment 85,070 Universal Credit 25,280 Employment and Support Allowance 4,716
2025-26 Details for 2025-26	145,815	86,857	31,893	3,587
Personal Independence Payment 86,857 Universal Credit 31,893 Employment and Support Allowance 3,587

Figure as of 10 September 2026. Source: Ministry of Justice.

Average wait from lodging a social security appeal to a decision (mean weeks, all benefits)
Year	Mean wait
2017-18	23 weeks
2018-19	29 weeks
2019-20	31 weeks
2020-21	32 weeks
2021-22	33 weeks
2022-23	27 weeks
2023-24	27 weeks
2024-25	32 weeks
2025-26	35 weeks

Personal Independence Payment: mandatory reconsiderations and appeals (England and Wales)
Year	Reconsiderations	Award changed	Appeals lodged	Overturned at hearing
2013-14 Details for 2013-14	7,910	24%	2,170	50%
Award changed 24% Appeals lodged 2,170 Overturned at hearing 50%
2014-15 Details for 2014-15	80,790	20%	26,630	60%
Award changed 20% Appeals lodged 26,630 Overturned at hearing 60%
2015-16 Details for 2015-16	117,480	14%	46,060	65%
Award changed 14% Appeals lodged 46,060 Overturned at hearing 65%
2016-17 Details for 2016-17	173,580	15%	72,510	67%
Award changed 15% Appeals lodged 72,510 Overturned at hearing 67%
2017-18 Details for 2017-18	152,160	14%	66,570	70%
Award changed 14% Appeals lodged 66,570 Overturned at hearing 70%
2018-19 Details for 2018-19	140,780	18%	57,750	73%
Award changed 18% Appeals lodged 57,750 Overturned at hearing 73%
2019-20 Details for 2019-20	139,400	29%	48,520	74%
Award changed 29% Appeals lodged 48,520 Overturned at hearing 74%
2020-21 Details for 2020-21	109,760	38%	31,190	67%
Award changed 38% Appeals lodged 31,190 Overturned at hearing 67%
2021-22 Details for 2021-22	132,940	26%	43,730	69%
Award changed 26% Appeals lodged 43,730 Overturned at hearing 69%
2022-23 Details for 2022-23	153,050	12%	57,940	68%
Award changed 12% Appeals lodged 57,940 Overturned at hearing 68%
2023-24 Details for 2023-24	144,150	12%	51,560	64%
Award changed 12% Appeals lodged 51,560 Overturned at hearing 64%
2024-25 Details for 2024-25	146,750	11%	47,620	60%
Award changed 11% Appeals lodged 47,620 Overturned at hearing 60%
2025-26 Details for 2025-26	144,440	15%	46,060	52%
Award changed 15% Appeals lodged 46,060 Overturned at hearing 52%

Appeal outcomes for the latest year are still coming in: appeals lodged late in the year have not all been heard.

Source: Ministry of Justice, Tribunals statistics quarterly, April to June 2026: Social Security and Child Support tables, published 10 September 2026; Department for Work and Pensions, Personal Independence Payment statistics to July 2026: table 5B(i), published 15 September 2026.

The auditor’s view

This is the 38th consecutive year in which I have qualified my regularity opinion on the Department’s accounts due to material levels of fraud and error in benefit expenditure.
National Audit Office, Report on the Department for Work and Pensions accounts 2025-26, 9 July 2026

The Comptroller and Auditor General qualified his opinion on DWP’s accounts because of the level of fraud and error. The NAO quotes overpayments of 6.0% of benefit spending excluding the State Pension, a different basis from the 3.2% of all benefit spending in DWP’s statistics.

What each side says

Where should the effort go: stopping fraud, or getting decisions right?

Those who call for tougher action on fraud and overpayments

The powers granted through the Bill will allow us to better identify, prevent and deter fraud and error, and enable the better recovery of debt owed to the taxpayer. Andrew Western, Minister, Department for Work and Pensions (2 December 2025)
Ministers need to prevent overpayments in the first place and get a grip on Britain’s ballooning benefits bill. John O’Connell, Chief Executive, TaxPayers’ Alliance (2 September 2026) As quoted by GB News.
Working people who pay their taxes in full, every time, will rightly ask why their money is disappearing into the hands of people who aren’t entitled to it Helen Whately, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Conservative Party (2 September 2026) As quoted by GB News.

Those who stress wrongly refused claims and safeguards for claimants

Crucially, too many people are incorrectly rejected and have to fight through an appeals process before receiving the help they need. Citizens Advice (28 May 2026)
We all want genuine fraudsters to face the law, especially the multi-millionaire tax avoiders and Covid scammers. Silkie Carlo, Director, Big Brother Watch (22 January 2025)

Views are attributed to the people and organisations named, with the date and a link to where they said it. This site takes no side.

What these figures do and don't show

Fraud and error figures are modelled estimates from a sample of claims reviewed each year, with confidence intervals. They are not counts of prosecutions, convictions or proven cases.
Some benefits are not reviewed every year; DWP carries forward their last measured rate.
A decision overturned at tribunal can reflect new evidence or a change in circumstances as well as a wrong first decision.
Take-up figures are estimates from a household survey and are published as ranges.
The National Audit Office quotes overpayments excluding the State Pension (6.0% in 2025-26), a different basis from DWP’s rate for all benefits; the two should not be compared directly.
Figures cover Great Britain. Nothing on this page describes or characterises the people who claim.

Sources for this page

Source	Publisher	Figures as of	Updated	Licence
Fraud and error in the benefit system, FYE 2026 estimates	Department for Work and Pensions	14 May 2026	annual	Open Government Licence v3.0
Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up, financial year ending 2024	Department for Work and Pensions	30 October 2025	annual	Open Government Licence v3.0
Tribunals statistics quarterly, April to June 2026: Social Security and Child Support tables	Ministry of Justice	10 September 2026	annual	Open Government Licence v3.0
Unfulfilled eligibility in the benefit system, FYE 2026 estimates	Department for Work and Pensions	14 May 2026	annual	Open Government Licence v3.0
Child and Working Tax Credits error and fraud statistics 2021 to 2022, Annex B	HM Revenue and Customs	22 June 2023	annual	Open Government Licence v3.0

Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, under CC BY 4.0.

The four numbers side by side

Overpayments and underpayments over time

Child Benefit and tax credits (HMRC)

Prosecutions and penalties: a separate count

Underpayments found and repaid

Money left unclaimed

Decisions changed on reconsideration or appeal

The auditor’s view

What each side says

Where should the effort go: stopping fraud, or getting decisions right?

Those who call for tougher action on fraud and overpayments

Those who stress wrongly refused claims and safeguards for claimants

What these figures do and don't show

Sources for this page

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