Issues claiming correct benefits in East Yorkshire
£8.2 billion was overspent nationally on benefits in the past year.
People in East Yorkshire are often struggling to claim the correct benefits, as billions of pounds have been lost in overpaid benefits nationally.
The past financial year saw an £8.2 billion overpayment according to the Public Accounts Committee, compared to £4.4 billion in 2019-20 before the pandemic.
Kirsty Connor from Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice said people come to them for advice with benefits "Constantly." She added: "Last month we got in excess of a million financial outcomes for people with universal credit alone - that's just who we've helped through our Hull and East Riding advisers."
She said that some people did not realise they can claim universal credit even if they are working but are on a particularly low income.
The Department of Work and Pensions estimates 18% of universal credit claims relating to more than 800,000 people already contains an element of fraud - which can be unintentional.
Kirsty Connor said: "It's not fraud purposefully, but everyone has a responsibility to make sure they update their changes of circumstances on time to prevent overpayments. For example if you are on universal credit and had a child living with you that's now left home you will no longer have the bedroom allowance for them."