DWP and access to bank accounts.

Hello I am new here. Can anyone answer my question please?

There's so much being said about the DWP and them wanting to see / pry into people's bank accounts.


Have the DWP got the legal right to look and how far back into the account, a week, 6 months a year or more. Will or has the DWP be granted access to people's bank account? Or has the idea been binned.

Thanks.

I think at the moment the DWP would first need to suspect you are commiting fraud before they can access a bank account (I think they can pretty much always just write to you and ask for statements and suspend your benefit if you don't send them).

From memory I don't think people who are claiming PIP would have things dealt with on the fraud track at present, there is another department called compliance who deal with disabled people, and I don't think there are any criminal proceedings involved, I don't know if they can apply to view your accounts etc

the new law has to get through the house of lords yet, and there will be a change of government by the end of the year, and possibly in late spring, so the new government would also have to like the idea enough to carry on with it

incidentally anyone can write to their MP and tell them you don't like this idea and think it should be binned

HMRC at present only shares limited savings and investment information with the DWP. This consists of a list of the names of banks, Building Societies etc that a claimant has an account with. That is why when you make a new claim the DWP may ask you to attend the Jobcentre with bank statements showing the level of your savings. This is for each account that appears on their list. A problem arises if an account is not revealed and your name appears on the list as a customer of that financial institution. Then you can expect your Benefit to be suspended until a statement is forthcoming or maybe a Compliance interview if a large amount of money is involved. The DWP also have other fraud prevention powers involving Court applications. I don't know how things are going to change with the new proposals.