People can use an online form on the DWP website to
anonymously report suspects, listing their eye colour, piercings, scars,
tattoos and other details they deem relevant. Suspicions can also be logged
through the DWP benefit fraud hotline. The government’s constant attempts to
paint honest people – like low-paid workers relying on tax credits and
universal credit – as ‘skivers’ and benefit ‘cheats’is creating a hostile and
accusatory environment.
More than 85% of fraud allegations made by the public over
the last five years were false, according to figures obtained by the Observer.
Government statistics show fraudulent claims accounted for
0.7% of total benefit expenditure in the financial year 2012-2013. That amounts
to £1.2bn. On the other hand £1.6bn was underpaid to claimants by the DWP.
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