Question follow-through · 108642
Universal Credit: Overpayments
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Universal Credit claimants were overpaid cost of living payments in 2025; and what is the total amount of the overpayments identified in 2025.
About this written question
A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.
- Answering body
- Department for Work and Pensions
- Tabled
- 27 Jan 2026
- Target answer date
- 29 Jan 2026
- Answer
- 4 Feb 2026 · 8 calendar days after tabling
Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.
More questions by this MP on Social security and pensions
- Employment: Disability · 9 Feb 2026
- Social Security Benefits: Appeals · 24 Feb 2026
- Universal Credit · 24 Mar 2026
- Universal Credit: Young People · 15 Apr 2026
- Universal Credit: Young People · 16 Apr 2026
Shared topic keywords suggest a connection; they do not establish a follow-up.
Recorded timeline
27 Jan 2026
Question tabled
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Universal Credit claimants were overpaid cost of living payments in 2025; and what is the total amount of the overpayments identified in 2025.
29 Jan 2026
Target answer date
Date supplied by the official written-questions record.
4 Feb 2026
Answer published
The Department publishes fraud and error statistics annually and the data for FYE 2025 can be found here: Fraud and error in the benefit system, Financial Year Ending (FYE) 2025 - GOV.UK.
Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.
Later records
Possible follow-up questions
Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.
Employment: Disability
9 Feb 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to improve levels of employment for people with disabilities.
Social Security Benefits: Appeals
24 Feb 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the component costs are to facilitate a social security appeal hearing.
Pensioners: Poverty
24 Mar 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to prevent pensioner poverty.
Universal Credit
24 Mar 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how universal credit payments are being managed to ensure timely support.
Families: Chronic Illnesses
24 Mar 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assistance his Department provides to families affected by long-term illness.
Universal Credit: Young People
15 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of removing the Universal Credit health element from young people on their ability to a) meet essential costs and b) participate in employment support
Universal Credit: Young People
16 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of restricting young people’s eligibility for the Universal Credit health element on a) poverty and b) employment.
Universal Credit: Young People
16 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people aged 16-24 are claiming the Universal Credit health element while in full-time non-advanced education.
Universal Credit: Cost of Living
2 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of payment levels under Universal Credit in meeting essential living costs.
Universal Credit: Deductions
2 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households receiving Universal Credit are subject to deductions for advance repayments and other debts.
Universal Credit
2 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average processing time is for new claims for Universal Credit.
Social Security Benefits
2 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of households affected by the benefit cap.