Communities Minister announces crackdown on benefit fraud

Stormont Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced a crackdown on benefit fraud.

The DUP minister urged a united effort in a time of budget constraint to protect public money, as he announced his initiative which he said would also target error.

It is estimated that in Northern Ireland in 2024, there was a 3.7% loss of benefit expenditure to fraud and error.

This broke down to 2.5% claimant fraud, 0.8% claimant error and 0.4% official error.

Figures from the Department for Communities indicated benefit fraud had risen from £163 million to £233 million in 2024, while £40 million in government mistakes and £75 million in customer mistakes brought the total to £350 million in 2024.

The new plans were the latest move by Mr Lyons, who last year brought back the publishing of the names of people convicted of benefit fraud.

The practice had been stopped by former communities minister Deirdre Hargey (Sinn Fein) in 2020 who said publicising names was “not necessary”.

On Monday, Mr Lyons told MLAs that since then, anonymous fraud referrals from members of the public had increased from 6,353 in 2024/25 to 9,857 to the end of January 2026.

He said some of the sums of money involved in benefit fraud range from £30,000 up to £75,000, stressing the importance of “dealing with this head on”.

He said he planned to introduce recommendations made by a specialist working group within his department which had examined the issue.

These included plans to expand current activities against fraud and error, strengthen specialist training for staff, and maximise technology solutions in conjunction with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

He also aimed to educate the public further on benefit fraud, to “share in the department’s zero-tolerance approach”.

Mr Lyons said those who cheated the system were taking support from those who needed it most.

“At this time of significant budget constraint, we must be united in ensuring that public money is directed to our key services – to help families in financial distress, to the homeless, to those who are sick and to educate our young people. Not to criminals,” he said.

“I have taken away a shield of anonymity from those who steal from all of us and the response from the public to shining a light on these stories has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Mr Lyons said that some of the proposed measures were subject to funding bids and that they could not proceed without the necessary financial support.

“Every delay in resourcing this work leaves our system exposed to fraud, undermines public confidence and risks diverting vital support away from those who need it most,” he said.

Mr Lyons also welcomed the Government’s commitment to consider the Treasury sharing back savings from tackling benefit fraud and error with the Executive.

“I will seek Executive support for the initial investment and to reinvest the share of savings generated in programmes that support people with barriers to employment, particularly those with disabilities or health conditions,” he said.

“This is a key priority for me, as it aligns with Programme for Government goals to reduce economic inactivity, tackle poverty and social exclusion, and support inclusive economic growth across Northern Ireland.

“Let us reaffirm our shared commitment to ensure that the right money reaches the right people at the right time, and that those who seek to exploit the benefit system are met with firm and fair consequences.”