DWP takes legal action against benefits cheats as claims reach record high

Nearly 24 million people across Great Britain are currently receiving at least one benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), with a record-breaking 8 million now on Universal Credit.

However, the UK Government has issued a stern warning that benefit fraud will be detected and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, following the sentencing of a Manchester woman to 20 months in prison.

The 51-year-old woman was found guilty of pocketing £110,000 in benefits she wasn't entitled to after failing to inform the DWP that her living situation had changed. The woman pleaded guilty to four counts of benefit fraud at Manchester Magistrates Court on 12 August, having falsely claimed Job Seeker's Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Support between April 2013 and April 2023.

The case came to light following an anonymous tip-off, which led to a joint investigation by the DWP Pensions Regional Investigations team and Manchester City Council.

Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western, stated: "Our social security system exists to support the most vulnerable in society and those genuinely in need.

"We will continue to take legal action to fight those trying to scam the system and if anyone thinks they can get away with it this case shows that they will be brought to justice.

"Joint working between the DWP and local authorities will protect taxpayers' money while ensuring genuine claimants receive the money they are entitled to."

Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Finances and Resource for Manchester City Council, added: "We know that in Manchester there are a great number of people who are genuine beneficiaries of the benefit system and put their trust in it to deliver the support they need. For many it has been a lifeline through one of the most difficult economic climates in a generation.

"This case was an example of how the trust inherent in our benefits system was abused for personal gain. I would like to thank our officers for their tireless work to detect this fraud, as well as our colleagues in the DWP for ensuring a successful prosecution."

The case represents part of a broader trend of successful prosecutions safeguarding taxpayers' money in recent months.

In June, a couple from Port Talbot were handed suspended prison sentences ranging from six months to two years after pocketing £48,517 in Universal Credit payments whilst concealing their capital assets.

During the same month, a woman from Swansea was found guilty after submitting fraudulent childcare claims, uploading fabricated invoices to claim childcare expenses she had never paid.

She was given a 6-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to carry out unpaid work. A couple from St Helens have each been sentenced to two years in prison after fraudulently claiming over £268,000 through offences including false Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims and a Local Authority Direct Payment, using fake identities, as well as claiming Employment Support Allowance as a single person despite living together.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has stated that these successful prosecutions come as the UK Government is bolstering its ability to combat fraud and identify genuine errors even sooner, through the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill.

This Bill is projected to save taxpayers £1.5 billion over the next five years.