Chancellor John Healey is to send 2,000 fraud specialists into Jobcentres to claw back £1.4bn from benefits cheats

Currently only 78 staff work on the scheme, a figure set to reach 250 by year-end, with the full complement of 2,000 not in place until 2030. One claimant fraudulently collected nearly £39,000 while resident in Zimbabwe and renting out a UK property. Stricter checks targeting 'abroad fraud' are also anticipated. Meanwhile, the benefits bill is projected to rise by £5.5bn next year as Prime Minister Andy Burnham rejects 'crude' welfare cuts.

A Midlands claimant used a derelict building as their registered address to obtain childcare support.

The welfare bill is forecast to hit £400bn by the early 2030s.

Sir Keir Starmer abandoned his own welfare reforms after a backbench rebellion.