Crooked civil servants stole £1.7million in benefits meant for pensioners, carers and disability claimants last year
Department for Work and Pensions staff took the cash by fraud, its annual report reveals.
There were 25 investigations into employee theft in the 2024-25 tax year, with proven losses of £1,713,809.18.
A further 22 investigations into salary and expenses fraud revealed losses of £43,886.76.
And the total amount overpaid through either fraud or error was a staggering £9.5billion.
The findings will come as a blow to Sir Keir Starmer, who has pledged to clamp down on benefits fraud and reduce the spiralling welfare bill.
Dennis Reed, of OAP charity Silver Voices, said: 'This is an outrageous betrayal of public trust.'
A DWP spokesman said: 'We take fraud extremely seriously.
"When there is evidence of wrongdoing, an employee is subject to disciplinary action and dismissal."
Shameless moment crook counts £30k in cash he swindled from vulnerable pensioners
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