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Universal Credit: Fraud

Asked by Max WilkinsonLiberal DemocratDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 12 February 2026UIN 108340

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to prevent fraud relating to Universal Credit recipients claiming for properties they no longer occupy.

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms

Since Autumn Budget 2024, the Government has committed to gross savings of £14.6bn up to the end of 2030/31 from fraud, error and debt activity in GB, which includes savings from the new powers contained within the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act, an extension to continue Targeted Case Reviews to check accuracy of Universal Credit (UC) claims at risk of being incorrect until 2031 and the introduction of periodic redeclaration for UC claims to ensure claim accuracy, reduce fraud and error, and prevent avoidable debt.

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