Twenty-Ninth Report - Progress in implementing Universal Credit
Select Committee
Public Accounts Committee
HC 458
26 April 2024
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Twenty-ninth report from Session 2023-24 · published 11 Jul 2025
Recommendations & Conclusions
2 results
13
Conclusion
Not Addressed
DWP unable to assess Universal Credit's fraud and error impact against legacy benefits
Conclusion
The Department’s objective is for UC to save around £1.3 billion every year when fully implemented, from reduced losses due to fraud and error. However, changes during and since the COVID-19 pandemic, including in the nature of UC cases and …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the difficulty in evaluating Universal Credit's impact on fraud and error but redirects to discuss its positive impact on the labour market for certain claimant groups, without addressing the specific issue of the counterfactual for fraud and error.
HM Treasury
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14
Conclusion
Universal Credit overpayments remain significantly high at 12.8%, exceeding pre-pandemic levels
Conclusion
The proportion of UC overpaid was 12.8% (£5.5 billion) in 2022–23, down from 14.7% (£5.9 billion) in 2021–22 but still significantly above pre-pandemic levels.23 We have previously reported on the increasing levels of fraud and error and made recommendations to …
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HM Treasury
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