Benefits system is too complex

11.36.41pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 30th Jul 2007

The benefits system is too complex

Britain's benefits system is unacceptably complex and makes errors inevitable, according to a recent report by MPs. The damning assessment by the Work and Pensions Select Committee highlights the bewildering complexity of the current system of means-tested benefits. It has emerged that £2.5 billion was lost to fraud and errors last year.

"This report is yet more evidence of the Prime Minister's obsession with means-tested benefits." said Danny Alexander MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary.

"After 10 years of this government, we have over 40 benefits being paid out by the DWP at hundreds of different rates. The consequence is that many staff and claimants simply don't understand the system. As the Committee rightly points out, high levels of fraud and error are inevitable unless we radically overhaul the whole benefits system to make it much simpler."