DWP said that missing its savings target was not a cause for concern, describing it as “a blip” caused by a change in its approach to implementing the Targeted Case Reviews due to wider pressures in the Department. In 2023–24, it had realised that it could not recruit the staff needed for Targeted Case Reviews alongside the extra work coaches and other staff required to administer the growth in benefits. It therefore decided to use a contracted route and had to divert some resources away from carrying out the reviews to set up that arrangement. It assured us that the Targeted Case Review approach was working and said that it was ahead of profile in generating savings in the current year and would be back on track for later years.63