Businesses and individuals who incorrectly received financial aid during the Covid pandemic are being encouraged to repay the funds promptly to absolve their guilt or face legal repercussions.
The Treasury’s counter-fraud commissioner, Tom Hayhoe, is promoting a new initiative for voluntary repayments, advising individuals to rectify their mistakes and move forward. Emphasizing a December deadline for the “no questions asked” repayment period, he underlined the importance of returning any undeserved funds without delay.
In an article for The Mirror, Hayhoe cautioned that failing to take advantage of this opportunity could lead to serious consequences, including potential business closures, company director disqualifications, legal proceedings, and imprisonment for the most severe offenders.
Highlighting the significance of returning Covid relief money to essential services like the NHS, police, and armed forces, Hayhoe stressed that individuals knowingly and wrongfully benefiting from taxpayer-funded support could face legal actions, disqualification, or imprisonment.
The Treasury also announced the launch of a Covid fraud reporting website to allow the public to report suspected fraudulent activities. The voluntary repayment window covers various Covid relief programs such as furlough, bounce-back loans, support grants, and the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
Initiated in April 2020 by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak, the furlough scheme supported 1.3 million employers nationwide with a total expenditure of £70 billion in taxpayer funds.
Commissioned by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the counter-fraud commissioner has been tasked with recovering public funds lost to fraud and mismanagement during the Covid crisis. Reports from the Treasury indicate that over £10 billion was lost due to fraud, flawed contracts, and wasteful spending under the Conservative government, with £1.5 billion successfully recuperated.
Earlier this year, Hayhoe reviewed £8.7 billion worth of Covid personal protective equipment, including gowns, masks, and visors, that had to be written off due to government losses. Health department accounts revealed significant financial losses due to unusable equipment and wasted items, underscoring the need for responsible financial practices.
The Covid Voluntary Repayment Scheme aims to provide individuals with a straightforward opportunity to rectify wrongful claims and contribute to community welfare. Participants are urged to take advantage of this chance before the December 2025 deadline to avoid potential legal ramifications and uphold financial integrity.
