The Administrative Fairness Lab says the DWP reviews over 1 million Universal Credit awards yearly, giving claimants 14 days to provide evidence or risk losing benefits; only 21% of reviews find any incorrect payment. The checks are due to expand to Pension Credit.
The overall initiative is projected to save £13bn by the end of the decade. Pension Credit reviews are due to run from 2026 to 2029, contacting hundreds of thousands of pensioners and cutting the benefits bill by £370m over four years. The Independent estimates 95,000–100,000 claimants may have payments reduced. The Lab calls for no more than one review a year, clearer reasons and limits on evidence requests.
The expansion follows DWP powers gained in late 2025 to request financial information from banks. The department says the programme has saved more than £1bn and helps correct overpayments while ensuring people receive support they are entitled to; it says evidence requests must be reasonable and proportionate.
