Labor blames disability benefit fraud and error for lack of cost of living support - but they demonize the wrong people

Workforce claimed billions lost to error and fraud could have paid another cost of living payment, but we need to stop pitting the most vulnerable against each other< /p> DWP The DWP has overpaid £8.5billion in benefits in just two years (
Image: In pictures via Getty Images)

Last night Labor claimed the amount spent on the benefits fraud and error could have 'funded an additional £300 cost of living payment' - after it was discovered that in 2021-22 the DWP overpaid £8.5bn in benefits across the board.

I was angry beyond belief when I read this because once again, instead of focusing on the corruption of the DWP and the Tories, the Labor Party is throwing the most vulnerable under the bus.

There are two incorrect assumptions that need to be addressed here, the insinuation that benefit fraud is high and that the error is the fault of the claimants.

I've said many times how low benefits fraud actually is and it's something I'll shout until I turn blue. However, in case you don't know the stats, here they are again.

Only 0.07% of disability benefit claims are investigated for fraud, 89% have been overturned. In fiscal year 2021, only 3% of benefit refunds came from fraud.

'Labour must focus on corrupting the DWP and Tories'. Pictured: Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Jonathan Ashworth (
Picture:
Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror)
In the same fiscal year, the government lost $35 billion in unpaid taxes, more than half of which was due to fraud. If 8 billion can pay for everyone to collect benefits to get an extra payment for the cost of living, then surely 35 billion could have paid for four extra payments for the cost of living for all of us.
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However, you are 23 times more likely to be accused of benefits fraud than tax evasion. No prizes for guessing why.

Of course, many people receive allowances. Families, people with low incomes, job seekers, single parents; but when the words "benefit fraud" are used, many will blame those on disability benefits.

Most of these are coordinated attacks on people with disabilities that the Conservatives have orchestrated over the past decade and a half. They claim that we are faking and grabbing good honest hard working people, while they make the assessments inhumane and the application process by...

Politics Apr 11, 2023 0 37 Add to Reading List

Labor blames disability benefit fraud and error for lack of cost of living support - but they demonize the wrong people

Workforce claimed billions lost to error and fraud could have paid another cost of living payment, but we need to stop pitting the most vulnerable against each other< /p> The DWP the DWP overpaid £8.5bn in benefits in just two years DWP The DWP has overpaid £8.5billion in benefits in just two years (

Image: In pictures via Getty Images)

Last night Labor claimed the amount spent on the benefits fraud and error could have 'funded an additional £300 cost of living payment' - after it was discovered that in 2021-22 the DWP overpaid £8.5bn in benefits across the board.

I was angry beyond belief when I read this because once again, instead of focusing on the corruption of the DWP and the Tories, the Labor Party is throwing the most vulnerable under the bus.

There are two incorrect assumptions that need to be addressed here, the insinuation that benefit fraud is high and that the error is the fault of the claimants.

I've said many times how low benefits fraud actually is and it's something I'll shout until I turn blue. However, in case you don't know the stats, here they are again.

Only 0.07% of disability benefit claims are investigated for fraud, 89% have been overturned. In fiscal year 2021, only 3% of benefit refunds came from fraud.

'Labour must focus on corrupting the DWP and Tories'. Pictured: Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Jonathan Ashworth (

Picture:

Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror)

In the same fiscal year, the government lost $35 billion in unpaid taxes, more than half of which was due to fraud. If 8 billion can pay for everyone to collect benefits to get an extra payment for the cost of living, then surely 35 billion could have paid for four extra payments for the cost of living for all of us.

However, you are 23 times more likely to be accused of benefits fraud than tax evasion. No prizes for guessing why.

Of course, many people receive allowances. Families, people with low incomes, job seekers, single parents; but when the words "benefit fraud" are used, many will blame those on disability benefits.

Most of these are coordinated attacks on people with disabilities that the Conservatives have orchestrated over the past decade and a half. They claim that we are faking and grabbing good honest hard working people, while they make the assessments inhumane and the application process by...