Written question asked by James Clappison (Conservative) on Tuesday, 8 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 February 2002. It was answered by Ian McCartney (Labour) on Monday, 4 February 2002 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the proportion of claims for the children's premium in income support and jobseeker's allowance which have been (a) fraudulent and (b) incorrect. - Inc ref to "The Results of the Area Benefit Review and Quality Support Team from April 1999 to March 2000: Fraud and Error in Claims for Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance, copy in Library. (Further information on 05.03.2002 at 381 c255W)

Answer: Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the proportion of claims for the children's premium in income support and jobseeker's allowance which have been (a) fraudulent and (b) incorrect. [25988] Mr. McCartney: There is not a `children's premium' in income support or jobseeker's allowance. People claiming either benefit may claim for dependent members of their household. The latest information on the levels of fraud and error is in "The Results of the Area Benefit Review and Quality Support Team from April 1999 to March 2000: Fraud and Error in Claims for Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance", a copy of which is available in the Library. However, it is not possible to disaggregate the number of cases in which fraud and error are attributable solely to incorrect claims for dependent children.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 25988; 379 c757W;379 c753W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Children Abuse Fraud Jobseeker's allowance Income support Recipients Social security benefits
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk