With plans for a new uniform benefit systems underway, the National Audit Office's latest report on the DWP's computer systems doesn't make for encouraging reading.

According to the NAO. many of the administrative failings at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are down to its IT systems. The DWP overpaid claimants by an estimated £1.1 billion over the past year, and made underpayments of £500 million.

The NAO noted that in 2007 “the Department introduced a number of IT system enhancements, such as a customer information system to share common data across existing IT systems in order to reduce the risk of administrative error.”

But it found: “Despite these efforts, the Department’s commitment has served only to hold the level of error steady, not to reduce it. Between 2006-07 and 2009-10 there has been no discernible decrease in the estimated cost of overpayments or underpayments due to administrative error as a percentage of benefits expenditure.”

In reality many DWP workers have to use IT systems that do not interoperate and communicate, according to the NAO. "Different computer systems were used to process benefits but they did not communicate well with each other," said the report. 'Staff reported that human error was also a key factor in administrative errors. By this they meant a transcription or typographical mistake in data entry.”

The Coalition Government's plans for a new universal benefit have been described as not being dependent on “mega IT systems”. But last week it was revealed that delays to HMRC IT roll out would likely impact on the delivery of systems to support the benefits scheme.

Source: http://www.publictechnology.net/sector/central-gov/dwp-shortcomings-tied-back-incompatible-ict