People on PIP may be forced to pay money back after DWP completes 2023 review
manchestereveningnews.co.ukNew figures suggest that almost £10billion was overpaid in benefits last year. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) pays State Pension and welfare benefits to around 22.7 million people across Great Britain.
But stats show that the total number of benefit overpayments over the last year was £9.7 billion (3.7%), an increase on the £8.3bn figure for 2023.
The numbers were published in the 2024 Fraud and Error in the Benefit System report. However, the figures also show that while overpayments fell from £200 million in 2022/23 to £90m last year, it could result in claimants having to pay money back to the DWP, the Daily Record reports The main reason for PIP overpayments is due to claimant error (0.3%) where someone has failed to report a change in their circumstances, specifically an improvement in their condition.
The report explains that the proportion of PIP claims overpaid last year was one in 100, the same rate as the previous year.
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