Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Payment: Fraud
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of fraud in relation to (a) Pension Credit and (b) the Winter Fuel Allowance.
Answered by Andrew Western
The Department publishes yearly estimates of fraud and error in the benefit system. The latest estimates for Pension Credit are available in section 9: Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2024 to 2025 estimates - GOV.UK.
Estimates of Winter Fuel Payment fraud is not routinely published; more information can be found at the following link: Background Information and Methodology: Fraud and error in the benefit system, Financial Year Ending (FYE) 2025 - GOV.UK
The Department is taking action to reduce incorrectness in all benefits. The Public Authorities (Fraud Error and Recovery) Act 2025 Eligibility Verification Measure requires banks and financial institutions to provide data that will enable the Department to check the accuracy of awards. We are also introducing case reviews in Pension Credit to help ensure customers continue to receive the correct benefit amount.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →