Tens of thousands of vulnerable people lost, on average, £5,000 each in benefits. An estimated 70,000 ill and disabled claimants transferred to Employment and Support Allowance from other handouts since 2011 were underpaid.
The National Audit Office said some lost out on as much as £20,000.
Meg Hillier
Meg Hillier, who chairs the the Commons public accounts committee, hit out at ‘shoddy administration’ by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Sir Amyas Morse
Sir Amyas Morse, who heads the National Audit Committee, said, “Tens of thousands of people, most of whom have severely limiting disabilities and illnesses, have been underpaid by thousands of pounds each, while the department for several years failed to get a proper grip on the problem.”
A DWP spokesperson said, “We’re well under way with our plan to identify and repay people affected by this issue, and payments have already started.”