DLA overpayment is clerical error, not fraud or "overgenerous welfare state"

[SerialKipper]

Here, before the usual suspects read the headline and start on their usual half-baked yelling of "just goes to show DLA must be cut".

"When claimants reach state pension age, disability living allowance and attendance allowance are combined into a single weekly payment with state pension and pension credit."

The DWP got its sums wrong and paid the wrong combined amount to many pensioners, going back at least 5 years. It was told to fix this in 2007 but carried on with the same mistake (though not necessarily the same recipients).

This £16 million error will of course be included in any DWP figures which state, "£XXX lost in DLA fraud or error, " as such errors always are.

As you were.

thought this deserved a 'bump' before it fell off the page

I hadn't seen anything in media about this - wow at it it continuing in (expensive ) part after was uncovered the first time... a real worry for the very unwell elderly people and yes, outrageous that the dept get to lump it in with fraud .

bump in case anyone missed this earlier

Thanks for posting this. Doubt those who hate people on benefits will pay any attention, mind.

Another bump. Thanks for posting this.

edam but just in case they want something else to read i'll bump it again

i agree Edam. They are quite conspicuous by their abscence arent they!

To be fair, the thread title isn't the most immediately gripping - I mean no disrespect but 'DLA overpayment is clerical error' doesn't scream 'read me now!'. Would be interesting to see how the original post would fare with a more enticing title.

bump...shamelessly bump

It's a seriously crap title - I'm useless at them.

Even "£16m DLA overpayment..." would have been better. I could ask MNHQ to change, but not sure they would.

Not another bloody dla rip off scam (possible title?)

Not another bloody dla rip off scam (possible title?)

Was also trying to make it so people didn't need to click to get gist.

I am beyond hopeless at headers and captions - not marvellous for a professional editor.

Report your OP and ask MNHQ to amend the title.

Will do, Amber, but suggestions welcome?

Mind you, the usual suspects don't base their opinions on anything so mundane as facts...

Sorry serial, honestly didn't mean to have a go, just trying to think why it had garnered so little attention.

No no, you weren't having a go at all, edam. I more than agree - and pause before even starting threads to wonder if I'll ever write a passable heading/opening para.

No hope at all when tired!

another wee bump...hopefully the rise in contribution numbers will entice readers in

how about 'DLA, fraud and overpayments' as a thread title?

edam

Sorry serial, honestly didn't mean to have a go, just trying to think why it had garnered so little attention.

Because a £16m overpayment in the DWP's estimate of £660m lost in fraud is less than 2% and statistically insignificant.

This just accounts for one small part of DWP error this isn't the sum total of clerical error and the rest is fraud.

It is well documented that DLA fraud is tiny.

AmberLeaf

This just accounts for one small part of DWP error this isn't the sum total of clerical error and the rest is fraud.

It is well documented that DLA fraud is tiny.

I've just given you the DWP's figure for fraud loss. £660 million. I don't think that's tiny. Yes, it's tiny compared to the colossal amount spent on welfare in general, but then the cost of the Olympics is tiny compared to that.

I'm talking about the low rate of fraud/error for DLA seeing as that is what the OP relates to.

What are you expects people to say in response to this? And what makes you think that people would 'scream for DLA to be cut?'

If the DWP started being ruthless in trying to recover these payments, then there would be something to shout about. However, if they handle it sensibly, then it's a bit of a non story. Just another government cock up to add to the list.

But if it gets lumped in with 'fraud', it's practically an invitation for newspapers and anyone with a right-wing agenda to start screaming about the massive amount of fraudlent claiming of DLA, when in fact it is mainly down to clerical error (and in this case a specific error with a known origin). That is unfair.

Why would it get lumped in with fraud when it's clearly a clerical error made by DWP?