UK Inquiry Tracker

DWP follow-up: Autumn 2026

Public Accounts Committee Open Inquiry

Opened: 3 Jul 2026 Parliament page

In 2024-25, underpayments of benefits by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had risen to £4.9 billion, up from £4.2 billion in the previous year. Disability benefits showed significantly higher rates of underpayment than other benefits. Overpayments of £9.5 billion were reported in the Department for Work and Pensions’ … Read more In 2024-25, underpayments of benefits by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had risen to £4.9 billion, up from £4.2 billion in the previous year. Disability benefits showed significantly higher rates of underpayment than other benefits. Overpayments of £9.5 billion were reported in the Department for Work and Pensions’ accounts, a reduction from £9.7 billion in the previous year. Universal Credit continued to account for the majority of these. The PAC has a longstanding interest in scrutinising the work of the DWP. Its 2026 report into how DWP tackles fraud and error in benefit expenditure warned the Department over its extensive new bank account checking powers, while also highlighting the unacceptable finding that levels of fraud and error have now rendered its financial accounts qualified for almost four decades. A report from the PAC into the DWP in the same year warned that people risked being pushed into poverty by the Department’s continuing unacceptably poor service, with unacceptable waits faced by those awaiting their Personal Independent Payments to be processed. In summer 2026, the National Audit Office (NAO) will publish its report on the DWP’s accounts for 2025-26. Separately, in autumn, it will also publish its report into the DWP’s approach to innovation, which will seek to highlight lessons and areas of good practice in this area. Proceeding from the NAO’s report, the PAC will take evidence from senior DWP officials on likely topics including DWP’s ongoing efforts to reduce fraud and error, including the extent of official error as well as claimant error and fraud, the Department’s organisational culture, and its vision for the role of innovation in its work. The Committee will welcome written evidence on these issues in due course. Please look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note that the Committee cannot accept material as evidence that is published elsewhere. The Committee decides what information to publish and how. You can request anonymity or confidentiality when you send evidence, but it is for the Committee to say whether it will agree.It may treat submissions confidentially, even where you have not requested this. Please note that the Committee’s inquiry cannot assist with individual cases. If you need help with an individual problem you are having, you may wish to read the information on Parliament’s website about who you can contact with different issues. Show less