Benefit fraud and error in Northern Ireland is costing the taxpayer £120.9 million sterling, it was claimed today.
A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the accounts of Government departments and other public bodies said estimated levels of fraud and mistakes in income support, jobseekers' allowance and housing benefit during 2002-3 were "unacceptably high".
The report revealed disability allowance mistakes by staff and members of the public amounted to £43.6 million.
The estimated costs related to fraud and error were £37.5 million for income support, £27.9 million for housing benefit, and £11.9 million for jobseekers' allowance.
Department of Social Development officials have managed to reduce suspected and customer income support and jobseekers' allowance fraud to £13.1 million by March 2003. However the Comptroller and Auditor General said £13.1 million was still "unacceptable."
PA