politics
April 8, 2026
UK gave over £850 million in benefits to dead people
The UK’s DWP has paid out £850 million to deceased claimants since 2021, less than half of which has been recovered, according to The Telegraph
TL;DR
- The UK's Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) paid £850 million in benefits to deceased people over four years.
- Approximately 2.6 million erroneous payments were made since 2021.
- Errors were caused by late processing of death notifications, hindering timely cancellation of automated payments.
- Less than half of the £850 million has been recovered.
- Critics have labeled the situation an 'appalling scandal' and a sign of administrative failure.
- The DWP mentioned a 'Tell us Once' service designed to prevent such occurrences.
- This issue arises amid broader criticism of the government's welfare spending, including costs for asylum seekers.
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