National Audit Office (2025) Report (government / official)

DWP begins to make headway tackling benefit fraud and error

National Audit Office

Ref: SRC-002-GBR-005

https://www.nao.org.uk/press-releases/dwp-begins-to-make-headway-tackling-benefit-fraud-and-error/

Accessed: 3/22/2026

Summary

NAO report finding DWP's ML model approximately three times more effective at identifying fraud risk than randomised control group, with £4.4m savings since May 2022. Notes fairness concerns about over-referral of older claimants and non-UK nationals.

View Harvard reference

National Audit Office (2025) DWP begins to make headway tackling benefit fraud and error. London: NAO, 22 October. Available at: https://www.nao.org.uk/press-releases/dwp-begins-to-make-headway-tackling-benefit-fraud-and-error/ (Accessed: 22 March 2026).

Linked Cases (1)

GBR-005 GBR Operational Deployment (Limited Rollout)

Risk-based Review and Fraud/Error Targeting Models for Universal Credit (UC Advances ML Model and related models)

Social assistance Classical ML