£8m in benefits paid into the wrong Post Office accounts

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Tens of thousands of people have received money to which they are not entitled. Just over £7.7 million was lost in the four years to 2006/07 and only £1.27million has been recovered.

However, the missing millions have not been officially recorded as a loss because the Department for Work and Pensions is still drawing up plans on how to reclaim it, or write it off.

The Tories condemned this as "creative accounting" and criticised the payments which have happened as thousands of post offices have been shut down.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling said: "It is time the Government stopped this waste and did something to prevent the unnecessary closure of local post offices. This is enough money to keep dozens of them open."

Benefits payments into banks and building societies are subject to tight checks and are rejected if deemed incorrect.

The system for Post Office Card Accounts (POCAs) is "less robust", according to the DWP.

A spokesman said: "Many of these errors are due to customers giving the department the wrong account details.

"We are working to ensure we pay the correct benefit to our customers every time."