What a waste of money?

Question

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/07112006/344/benefit-fraud-cost-taxpayer-2-7bn.html

Imagine what improvements we could make to the NHS, Education and other public services with all this money.

Yes, I am implying someone one is to blame. Accounts being qualified mean the accounts have not been approved therefore the DWP cannot satifactorily explain where £2.7billion has gone. Yes it is the people who commit benefit fraud that contribute to this, but the DWP has to take the blame as well. Losses like this have been going on for years and nobody there can explain where it has gone! If the system allows a department to 'lose' that amount of money then the system is wrong and it is a waste of our money and needs to be changed!

And yes if I knew someone was claiming money they were not entitled to I would report them as it comes from the tax payer and I don't pay a proportion of my hard earnt money to people who are not entitled to it.

Answer 1

By saying it is a waste of money, you imply it is someone's fault.
Why not criticise the people who are committing the crimes - they are the ones at fault...ever known someone who does it?
Would you report them?
Unitl people start reporting these disgusting money grabbing scum of the earth, this isn't going to get under control...shop the dirty benefit scrounging b******s.

Well, Zeggy, we pretty much agree on all counts...if only more people would help prevent the fraudulent claims...and as for waste of public money...where to start?

Answer 2

Whilst not condoning benefit fraud in any way, the amount of fraud has been reduced dramatically over the last nine years (as Sir John Bourn said in his full report).

I believe that we will never totally eradicate benefit fraud - given the number of people in receipt of benefit, the law of averages suggests that some fraudsters will slip through the net.

From my experience as a community activist however, it is extremely difficult to prove that people are committing benefit fraud; investigating is a long, time consuming process that takes a lot of people to do it.

The question that has to be asked is whether it is cost efficient to increase the amount spent on investigation, or whether that money would be better spent on ensuring that those who are genuinely entitled to benefit receive that benefit, and that the amount they receive is at a realistic level for people to live on.

Answer 3

what that site does not tell you is that an even greater amount of money is left unclaimed because of government policy to not tell people of exactly what they are entitled to claim. that is why there are so many seperate depts and different benefits. and do you think they would use any money they saved to help us, dream on , it would go towards a payrise for them and expenses. did you know you can get a subsidised alcoholic drink 24 hours a day in the house of commons,7 days a week while they spend our taxes debating wether the people who pay their wages are allowed to.

Answer 4

A drop in the ocean.
The EU budget has not been signed off by accountants for many years because of 'irregularities' , yet we are still pouring in billions.
Few people seem genuinely worried.
Think of how prosperous Great Britain would be if we paid these billions into our own coffers

Answer 5

This is what you get when government bodies employ people based on their race or sex rather than their ability to do the job! Total incompetence

Answer 6

I bet if the fraudsters do get discovered they get a 50p fine and half an hours community work.

Answer 7

yeah, but they don't care about the school benefits when they see more money hit the board. all they're worried about then is asking for a raise

Answer 8

And for this Benefit fraud Brits are responsible,not the foreigners....

Answer 9

Or not taken it from taxpayers in the first place.

Answer 10

i know, it's such a waste of resources.. so frustrating as that money is so valuable!