Two men have been arrested on suspicion of fraudulently claiming disability benefits, as part of a major anti-fraud government crackdown. The men are alleged to have created 15 identities between 2019 and 2023 to defraud £800,000 from the public purse.
An investigation by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in collaboration with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and the Metropolitan Police found eight applications for power of attorney were faked and used to apply for benefits on behalf of disabled applicants. The men from London allegedly also pretended to represent severely disabled applicants unable to manage their own affairs by supplying false medical reports to support claims for up to thousands of pounds of public money.
Benefit payments used to support disabled people including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), are alleged to have been among those hijacked by the fraudsters.
Further co-ordinated action will see the DWP work with partners to ensure that any vulnerable claimants who had their benefits hijacked are supported and have their entitlements correctly altered.
Last year the DWP launched the ‘Fighting Fraud in the Welfare System’, a new plan to drive down fraud and error from the benefits system. DWP plans to introduce a raft of new powers, including strengthening the penalty regime by introducing a new type of civil penalty for cases of fraud.
These new powers would include requirements for organisations, such as banks, to share data securely on an increased scale to check levels of savings and whether claimants are living abroad.
There are also plans to increase DWP officers’ powers to conduct searches, seize evidence, and make arrests.
The plans are backed by additional investment, with an extra £900 million over three years to help boost frontline defences.
Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP, said: “Benefit fraud is never a victimless crime, and sees money stolen from taxpayers and deserving members of the public. These arrests demonstrate our resolute commitment to cracking down on heartless fraudsters who dishonestly exploit our benefits system.
“We are determined to ensure criminals do not get away with stealing from the taxpayer, and our Fraud Plan will help save over £9 billion over the next five years.”
To keep up to date with the latest cost of living news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, follow us on Twitter @Record_Money, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out Monday to Friday - sign up here.
READ NEXT
- Millions of people on a low income urged to check for social tariff broadband package
Petition calling for new monthly energy tariff for pensioner and disabled households due response
New inquiry launches into cost of living payments to determine if support fair for everyone
New cost of living payment warning to 8m people who received any money last year
DWP estimates 42,000 more people will qualify for £300 cost of living payment due this autumn
