Experts have issued a stark warning over incoming Personal Independence Payment cuts – which they say “won’t fix” the amount of fraud currently sweeping the benefits system, as the Labour Party government tries to save 拢5 billion. Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick, a social security expert at Ulster University, said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 misdirected because PIP fraud is much, much lower than other benefits. With PIP you have to go through a very arduous process to check on conditions.鈥 鈥淭hey鈥檝e suggested some people are exaggerating conditions, particularly mental health conditions, and are claiming PIP when they don鈥檛 deserve it,鈥 she said. Tom Waters, associate director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), said: 鈥淧IP is not income or work related鈥 READ MORE Millions of workers could be handed 拢1,000 tax-free annual payout “There鈥檚 a difference between truthfully describing your condition in a way that鈥檚 more favourable to getting approved, and outright fraud.鈥 He acknowledged that Universal Credit fraud is 鈥渉igh鈥, but warned that targeting it would be resource-intensive. 鈥淎 major fraud crackdown is a trade-off because it鈥檚 costly and takes a lot of resources,鈥 he said. Georgina Colman, a PIP claimant and founder of Purpl discount website for disabled people, said the push to restrict PIP was 鈥渟o unfair鈥. The campaigner added: 鈥淚f there is fraud in universal credit that need to be tackled, then it shouldn鈥檛 be taken out onto the disabled community.鈥 John O鈥機onnell, chief executive of the TaxPayers鈥 Alliance, said the 拢6.5bn lost to benefit fraud last year was 鈥渁larming鈥. He added: 鈥淢inisters must get a grip, tighten checks 鈥 especially on universal credit.鈥 A DWP spokesperson said the Government had cut fraud by around 拢800m in the last year, and expected to save more with powers in the fraud bill. 鈥淭he vast majority of people who are currently getting PIP will continue to receive it,鈥 they added. 鈥淲e鈥檙e creating a sustainable welfare system that genuinely supports sick or disabled people while always protecting those who need it most.鈥