The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can now have the bank accounts of millions of pensioners and benefit claimants checked under new government powers.<\/p>\n
This is part of controversial new benefit fraud rules, with powers created by the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill. The new rules state: “The Government will begin implementing the Bill measures from 2026”.<\/p>\n
At the moment, claimants on three types of pensions and benefit payments can have their bank accounts checked in this way.<\/p>\n
“This power can only be used to obtain information on accounts that receive a specified DWP benefit, and any accounts linked to that benefit receiving account if they match the eligibility indicators set by DWP,” says the DWP\u2019s Eligibility Verification powers in the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill<\/a> information.<\/p>\n The DWP adds: “The measure will initially focus on benefits where incorrect payments are currently highest, these are:<\/p>\n Employment and Support Allowance<\/p>\n “Other benefits could be added with the approval of Parliament in the future through affirmative regulations.”<\/p>\n State Pension is explicitly excluded from this power and cannot be added by regulations.<\/p>\n Can the DWP see my bank statements?<\/p>\n According to information issued by the DWP, it will have the “power to require banks and other financial institutions to provide information to help verify a claimant\u2019s entitlement to benefits and identify incorrect payments.<\/p>\n “Banks and other financial institutions will be required to look at the data they hold on accounts in receipt of a specified DWP benefit payment and match these accounts to specific eligibility indicators determined by DWP (and defined within an Eligibility Verification Notice) and highlight where the criteria have been met.”<\/p>\n Can the DWP look at my bank transactions and see what I buy?<\/p>\n No, the rules are clear on this. Banks can only share limited information in response to an Eligibility Verification Notice, for example:<\/p>\n specified details about the account(s) (such as sort code and account number)<\/p>\n specified details about the account holder(s) (such as their name(s) and date(s) of birth)<\/p>\n specified details about how the account(s) meets the eligibility indicators.<\/p>\n They could receive a penalty for oversharing information, such as transaction information. The DWP also adds: “Any information shared through the Eligibility Verification Measure will not be shared on the presumption or suspicion that anyone is guilty of any offence.”<\/p>\n