DWP has published its 2024 statistics on fraud and error in benefit payments
Headline rate of overpayments is up from £8.3bn to £9.7bn.
Unlike previous years, the increase is not really in Universal Credit but for people above state pension age.
gov.uk/government/statistics…
Our American equivalent here using some bad star wars puns to make some important points on the extent of fraud in federal spend. Like in the UK, there is an increasing awareness of how much taxpayer money is being lost to fraud.
WatchBlog post: May the 4th Be With You—Want to Fight Fraud? ‘This is the Way…’ gao.gov/blog/may-4th-be-you-…
Good financial reporting on fraud and error is key to good management of fraud and error - we have launched a project where we will consult and set out what good practice looks like.
Government now requires its bodies to estimate the level of fraud and error their material support & distribution schemes experience.
We are developing a guide to help counter-fraud teams understand what good practice is in fraud and error reporting.
nao.org.uk/work-in-progress/…
Want to work with us on an exciting agenda holding government to account on fighting fraud and maintaining standards?
We’re hiring a Senior Audit Manager, who will work on Value for Money (performance audit), looking at Fraud & Propriety.
You must have strong analytical and communication skills as well as experience of project and people management.
Closes 11th April: nao.my.site.com/xcdrecruit__…
ALT National Audit Office Vacancy Senior Audit Manager Fraud and Propriety London and Newcastle
“Currently, too many whistleblowers face a difficult journey in raising concerns, and too many employers find it easier to shoot the messenger”…
Managing whistle blowers is one of the hardest aspect of my job.
My colleague Kate sets out the challenges.
"Real improvement comes with truly changing the culture of the organisation"
The NAO's Kate Caulkin has written in @HRMagazine about how whistleblowing can be made a positive experience for everyone involved.
Read it here: hrmagazine.co.uk/content/com…
Following the pandemic, the UK has fallen from 11th to 20th (out of 180) in the Transparency International survey of public and business perception of corruption.
Our report out today sets out 7 lessons on how government can maintain standards and tackle fraud in an emergency
The pandemic saw a large increase in fraud reported in the accounts we audit.
This rose from £5.5bn in the 2 years before the pandemic to £21bn in the 2 years after.
How can government prepare for future emergencies?
Find out more 👇
nao.org.uk/insights/tackling…
The more you deviate from normal ways of doing things, the more you need to be transparent about what you are doing and why.
Very pleased my team has been jointly shortlisted for the counter fraud awards - with DWP for our work on providing an accountability framework for fraud prevention work counterfraudconference.co.uk…
Today's report on the £1 billion programme by @DWPgovuk to modernise the health assessment process
A 🧵on why such transformation is hard and at high risk of cost overruns, time delays and not meeting its ambition - and what DWP is doing about this (nao.org.uk)
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Challenge 7 – Achieving stakeholder buy-in:
DWP has held events to inform stakeholders, but recognises that it could improve their engagement with the Programme.
We found few who understood the scale and ambition of the programme.
Challenge 8 – Policy uncertainty
There will be changes to requirements over the life of the Programme which may affect the current timetable
The main is implementing the new White Paper announcement that government plans to scape the WCA.
gov.uk/government/publicatio…