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DWP announces 'hundreds of thousands' of reassessments with claimants warned
The Department for Work and Pensions will use new powers to access bank data and contact families to verify benefit claims amid rising fraud, with safeguards and oversight.
- The Department for Work and Pensions is set to contact benefits claimants' families and "any relevant third-party information holder" under expanded anti-fraud powers, a spokesperson said.
- Facing a ballooning welfare bill, the DWP argues the changes are needed as officials say the pandemic saw a significant increase in fraud exploiting pandemic-era emergency payments.
- Banks will be asked to supply account details for Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, and Pension Credit, officials will request at least three months of statements, and investigators may recover debts directly from accounts.
- Critics stress the measures may be intrusive for ordinary claimants, with Siobhan Blagbrough warning claimants could be mistakenly identified and some viewing the powers as excessive.
- The Bill also creates a Public Sector Fraud Authority and wider investigatory powers, with safeguards including an Independent Reviewer and IOPC remit, but Justice warned about IOPC capacity and urged adequate powers and funding.
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Total News Sources6
Leaning Left0Leaning Right1Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution80% Center
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources are Center
80% Center
C 80%
R 20%
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