Get the facts on welfare

16 October 2019

Viral post about Conservatives’ record in government gets lots of things wrong

It incorrectly claims that child poverty is up 50%, crime is up 30%, and public sector pay is down 15%.

Viral post about Conservatives’ record in government gets lots of things wrong

26 September 2019

Claim about cost of Labour’s welfare policy is unsubstantiated

This estimate for Labour’s welfare bill is meaningless because Labour haven’t detailed their welfare policies.

Claim about cost of Labour’s welfare policy is unsubstantiated

19 August 2019

It’s not government policy to raise the pension age to 75

This was recommended in a report the Centre for Social Justice.

It’s not government policy to raise the pension age to 75

31 July 2019

There’s no easy way to compare benefit and tax fraud.

This graphic comparing benefit fraud and tax fraud is wrong. It’s difficult to compare DWP and HMRC, and most of the numbers quoted are incorrect.

There’s no easy way to compare benefit and tax fraud.

9 April 2019

Prime Minister’s pension claims don’t adjust for inflation

Theresa May said under the Conservatives the basic state pension increased by over £1,450. That’s correct in cash terms but once you account for inflation it’s around £550 more.

Prime Minister’s pension claims don’t adjust for inflation

1 March 2019

What happens to the money from National Insurance Contributions?

Surplus funds from National Insurance Contributions in the UK are currently invested to reduce the national debt.

What happens to the money from National Insurance Contributions?

12 October 2018

200,000 more people in work under Universal Credit? The government can’t know the answer

The National Audit Office says the government will never be able to measure whether Universal Credit leads to 200,000 more people in work.

200,000 more people in work under Universal Credit? The government can’t know the answer

9 July 2018

Do benefit fraud investigators outnumber super-rich tax inspectors 8:1?

HMRC employs around 1,000 staff to work with and investigate the tax affairs of the affluent and super-rich. DWP employs around 4,000 staff in its benefit fraud team.

Do benefit fraud investigators outnumber super-rich tax inspectors 8:1?

3 May 2018

Can people with terminal illnesses be declared fit to work?

There have been cases of people with terminal illnesses being declared fit to work reported by the media and charities. We don’t know how widespread this is.

Can people with terminal illnesses be declared fit to work?

14 February 2018

Falsely claiming to live alone accounts for around 9% of benefit fraud

Benefit claimants saying they were single, when in fact they lived as a couple with another person, was probably the fourth most common type of benefit fraud in 2016/17.

Falsely claiming to live alone accounts for around 9% of benefit fraud

Welfare

Viral post about Conservatives’ record in government gets lots of things wrong

Claim about cost of Labour’s welfare policy is unsubstantiated

It’s not government policy to raise the pension age to 75

There’s no easy way to compare benefit and tax fraud.

Prime Minister’s pension claims don’t adjust for inflation

What happens to the money from National Insurance Contributions?

200,000 more people in work under Universal Credit? The government can’t know the answer

Do benefit fraud investigators outnumber super-rich tax inspectors 8:1?

Can people with terminal illnesses be declared fit to work?

Falsely claiming to live alone accounts for around 9% of benefit fraud

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