Quote ="El Barbudo"The last time I read any stats on benefit fraud, the true figure was way below the headline figure.
The rest was benefit awarded in error.
I'm wondering if the same is true for this stat of £1.2bn ?'"
This may help to put things into perspective:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... 090513.pdf
[iFraud
The percentage overpaid due to fraud in the preliminary 2012/13 estimate is the
same as the 2011/12 estimate, 0.7%. However,
this is a slight decrease
compared to the 2010/11 estimate, 0.8%. The monetary value of fraud
overpayments in the preliminary 2012/13 estimates is the same as those in the
2011/12 and 2010/11 estimates, £1.2bn[/i
£1.2 billion is 0.7%. So thats less than 1% of people who claim benefit are claiming fraudulently, they estimate. But hey, £1.2 billion sounds good doesn't it? They also don't mention in the press 0.6% or £0.9 billion is underpaid due to claimant error or 0.3%/£0.5billion underpaid due to official error:
[iPreliminary estimates of Fraud and Error by type of error in 2012/13
0.7%, or £1.2bn, of total benefit expenditure is overpaid due to fraud;
0.9%, or £1.6bn, of total benefit expenditure is overpaid due to claimant error;
0.4%, or £0.7bn, of total benefit expenditure is overpaid due to official error.
0.6%, or £0.9bn, of total benefit expenditure is underpaid due to claimant error;
0.3%, or £0.5bn, of total benefit expenditure is underpaid due to official error.
[/i
So the total margin of error and fraud is 1.1% of the total benefit bill. But its £ signs and not %'s that matter to this government. Or if you are IDS you make it up as you go along.
Propaganda at its best. If you read carefully you will notice the figures are exactly the same (with a small decrease in fraud) as 2010/11 and 2011/12, therefore nothing has changed for 3 years, fraud is not on the increase as this government would have you believe.
