DWP refunds benefit claimants after nearly 200 fraud penalties were wrongly issued

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has refunded thousands of pounds after admitting that nearly 200 benefit fraud penalties were wrongly issued. A review found that 197 administrative penalties issued during 2023–24 and 2024–25 should not have been imposed because of procedural errors and insufficient evidence. The findings, first reported by Civil Service World, showed that around 23 per cent of penalties issued across the two years were subsequently withdrawn. The DWP issued 567 administrative penalties in 2023–24, of which 128 were later withdrawn. Nearly 200 benefit fraud penalties were wrongly issued as claimants get money back |The DWP declined to disclose the total amount being refunded.