£2bn benefit fraud nationally, says Oswestry

Ahead of being folded into the new Shropshire Council on 1 April, Oswestry Borough Council has released numbers for local benefit fraud, though without putting them in the context of total amounts paid out.

The amount of overpaid benefits detected by the council, has risen from around £22,000 in 2004/5 and nearer £23,000 in 2005/6, to more than £46,000 in 2006/7, and over £65,000 last year, while at the same time the overall number of prosecutions, cautions and administrative penalties has also risen steadily.

Out of context that doesn't tell us much.

More interesting is the council's view of overall benefit fraud levels, which is in line with Swansea's - click on the label at the foot of this post for more discussion.

It has been shown from research that most people do not realise the level of benefit fraud that is committed nationally and many people see it as a victimless crime. However, it is estimated that £2 billion a year is lost through people claiming money they are not entitled to. That is the equivalent of £80.00 for every household in Britain.