Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to tackle housing benefit fraud.

In May 2026 we published the annual national statistics on Fraud and Error in the Benefit System. For Housing Benefit (HB) the overpayment rate decreased to 6.2% (£795m) in the Financial Year Ending (FYE) 2026, from 7.2% (£1103m) in FYE 2025.

This was a statistically significant reduction. Analysis of these rates indicates that existing DWP initiatives and support for Local Authorities (LAs) have driven some reductions in HB.

• We are continuing to deliver Housing Benefit Award Accuracy (HBAA) which funds LAs to conduct full case reviews on their standard HB caseload.
• We provide LAs with data matching rules (matching HB claim information with that of DWP and HMRC) around the key areas of loss, to help improve accuracy of claims.
• We provide LAs with data shares for DWP benefits so they are notified of changes to DWP benefits that passport entitlement to HB.
• We also continue to support LAs through engagement, communications, guidance and consultancy support for their HB Services.