Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and that figure is expected to rise as the full financial and economic impact of Covid-19 is revealed when lockdown restrictions end on August 9.
The DWP recently announced that it estimates it overpaid £8.3 billion (7.5%) out of £111.4 billion of benefits other than the State Pension in 2020-21, an increase of £3.8 billion since 2019-20 - the highest rate since records began in 2005, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).
It said the pandemic was the main cause of the increase as checks were relaxed to ensure a record number of new Universal Credit claims could be processed and paid promptly.
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk