The DWP have published the results of a survey on the public’s attitudes to a worrying list of new powers it is considering acquiring, allegedly in order to combat fraud, error and debt in the benefits system.

The proposed new powers include:

  • Trained DWP investigators having arrest powers
  • Trained DWP investigators having search and seizure powers
  • Collecting information about where claimants are spending money
  • Collecting banking information as soon as fraud is suspected, rather than waiting for a criminal investigation
  • Asking banks to share information about accounts which look like someone may be committing fraud
  • Government organisations sharing data with DWP about claimants

The DWP research claims to show that a majority of the public were in favour of every one of these measures being introduced.

Even amongst a group of claimants, the DWP claim, more people considered the powers acceptable than found them unacceptable, with the exception of collecting information about where claimants are spending money. 

Given the levels of incompetence, data loss and unaccountability at the DWP, the possibility that staff could arrest claimants and seize their possessions is likely to alarm many readers.

Equally, the idea that the DWP could begin examining bank accounts and looking at how a claimant is spending their money merely because the they suspect fraud is a cause for real concern.

With the department increasingly relying on AI and algorithms they don’t fully understand to detect fraud, the possibility of claimants being wrongfully arrested and facing long and poorly resourced investigations seems real.

No legislation has yet been put forward by the DWP and many will hope that a general election intervenes and that these proposals never become anything more than the wish list of a failing department.

You can read the full details of the DWP consultation on possible new powers here.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    Wouldnt it be cheaper to offer us the chance to opt out from these investigative measures altogether? 
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      · 11 months ago
      @CaroA Unfortunately the rest of my post was not put up.... It was edited because I spoke of sending us to dignitas as a cheaper option!
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    · 11 months ago
    Following Nigel Farage's appalling experience with his bank, trusting banks correctly to identify fraud  - rather than merely to flag 'suspicion' - is highly dubious.  I don't like the sound of any of this, which screams potential for abuse of claimants.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    I don’t understand the check how we spend money goes. Unless it’s American style food stamps they are after. You can’t even buy tampons or shower gel with them! All you need to do get around it is spend on a credit card then pay it off in one monthly payment. Or cash!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 10 months ago
      @Dolly They would probably find that most people spend it on making contractual payments and interest.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 months ago
      @Akire I do wonder if they will have the power to check your credit card statements to see what you are spending the money on too. Especially when the credit card is linked to your bank account.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    The world had these types of powers imposed on a population in Germany during the rise of the NAZI Party, the enforcement of such power was carried out by the Gestapo and the other henchmen who were the SS. 
    The free world fought and died to never again allow such powers in any shape or form!! 

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 10 months ago
      @Jill My Father gave  seven years of his life fighting for this country to end up like this.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 months ago
      @Andrew Buck May we all honour those who fought for our freedom in this Remembrance season. If you listen carefully, you can hear them rolling in their graves!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    Big Brother rules ... OK ???
    This is terrfying and brings to mind Nazi Germany.
    People will be investigated just because govt departments want to save money.
    Neighbours will exercise grudges and "inform" ...

    Just what sort of a world are we living in 😱
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 months ago
      @Elen Sentier Dictatorship is on the way if this continues and agreed by parliament 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 months ago
      @Elen Sentier I watched a film showing the met police stopping people in the street to get their opinion on the people protesting for peace. Not sure of all the details but it looked really quite sinister and by what I read, it had the hallmarks of the 'inform' tactics. How scary. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 months ago
      @Elen Sentier Methinks a Tory wet dream, sadly....
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    It is extremely concerning that DWP operatives will obtain this power. We have seen the effects nationally with the social services and the thorough despise for these people. Is this to become a blanket UK scheme, and what circumstances would permit a investigator from the DWP to access your home and private financial records. If this is not regulated correctly it Could become a free for all. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    Judging by how well polls are rigged i doubt very much the majority were all for this level of Dystopian behaviour. Just more lies upon lies. How quickly we are sinking into a Facist state!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    And I thought that we lived in a democracy not a dictatorship! 

     I worked until disability forced me to stop, I do not smoke/drink/have my nails or eylashes done/visit pubs or coffee shops, I see no good reason why I should be monitored like a child on how I spend my money!  Where will this stop???

    If this goes ahead and I am sure it will because 2000 people (who are obviously not claimants) said it is a good idea!  

    Big brother is already watching us, but this is a step too far! An invasion of privacy.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 months ago
      @StaffyMummy Exactly as my comments 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 months ago
      @StaffyMummy I could not agree with you more!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 months ago
      @StaffyMummy 618 of the 2127 survey respondents were supposedly benefit claimants but the way that IPSOS chose to define that term (alternatively calling the claimants "DWP customers") includes people claiming Pension Credit, Carer’s Allowance, and/or Attendance Allowance. 
      If every claimant respondent had been entirely dependent on sickness-related benefits that are supposed to substitute for earnings from the work which they can't manage to get, do or keep, the results of the survey well might have been very different.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    I'm astonished that people of UK are so crazy , as to allow authorities to search your spending. 
    It is not up to them to decide what you spend the money on .  I can't imagine any other country doing it . 
    This is a discrimination under basic human rights. It is illegal. 
    Seriously, what is wrong with people here ? 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 10 months ago
      @Eva As benefits are means tested then there should be no need to look at peoples Bank accounts.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 months ago
      @Lesley Totally agree it’s disgusting 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 months ago
      @Eva The vast majority of the 'general public' have been brainwashed by many years of being told that claimants are 2nd class citizens who are all thieving scum living the high life. For as long as I can remember if you claim any kind of benefit for any reason for any length of time you will be treated as if you have no right to be treated with respect. 
      If you dare fall on hard times or even - god forbid - become disabled your worth to this country is all but gone. Your only use to the government is to be used as a disposable pawn in the game of power.
      They don't - never have, never will- actually care what happens to us so heaping more indignity and Draconian powers to beat us a bit lower is the aim. It doesn't matter if they make our lives impossible so they can tell voters they've reduced the amount of people on benefits, big cheers all round and pats on the back. Suicides and people dying all count towards getting the figures down.
      They simply don't care.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 months ago
      @Eva The sheep have been conditioned to accept this. The one's who will be abundantly joyful about this will be the well off. Aka: I'm alright Jack, etc.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    Big Brother.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    Sick looking at Hunts gleeful grin as he shoves us further down the lavy.
    Our lives are not our own. It's not good enough we have to wade through the stinking mire that are assessments to get a pittance for a meagre survival.  But this just shows its not really about saving money ,now is it ! As per, they'd rather dump money into 'catching us out' than actually helping us. Fix the NHS so some can actually return to their jobs. Stop whining about the sick and disabled, we did not choose this to be our all. Something has to give. This cannot be allowed to continue, the public needs the wool the government has pulled over their eyes removed... fast.

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    Well said Fred. 
    Your correct. We are easy targets. So it’s Harassment.  
    Iv used a Wheelchair for years, my condition means iv got so weak, I no long can use it out doors. 
    So part of my pip iv saved and just paid £1995.00 for a small  disability scooter. 
    Otherwise I’m housebound. 
    So would that purchase mean iv spent money in the wrong place. ???   
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    The social credit scheme is not far away now, this survey was clearly not done on the average person they hand picked the ones to answer these questions to suit their agenda. I always use cash I withdraw my benefit as soon as it goes into my account, we need to use more cash if we don't it will vanish leaving the state to spy on every aspect of your life, although I did hear a rumour that benefit claimants will soon not have the freedom of using cash as they are planning to make the money they pay in benefits digital only, giving them untold powers buy something they don't agree with and you will be sanctioned. I hope this is only a rumour but it definitely doesn't seem too far fetched with the draconian measures that we are all quickly seeing as part of living now. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 10 months ago
      @Elaine Carr life will not be worth living but then that is what the government want for us elderly and on benefits.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    Draconian and another step to eroding civil rights. There will be no freedom, soon you will be considered property of the state.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    Arrest, search, seizure and fraud should be under the legal system not a department dealing with benefits.  The idea of benefits is to help people.  That is the meaning of the word.  Being able to collect information about what people purchase is totally unacceptable and an invasion of privacy.  It seems like a return to the Workhouse environment is what is being aimed towards.  Whilst sharing of data in the medical field is beneficial, overall sharing between government organisations is different and totally unacceptable. Finally what section of “the public” were asked for their opinion in the survey?  Who carried out the survey and what was their brief?  Surveys can be biased towards a particular outcome!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 10 months ago
      @Jacqueline Surely if a parent chooses to skip a meal and buy a Christmas present for a child that is their right . There is no fraud attached to that seeing that the parent will have been means tested
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 months ago
      @Jacqueline Pity they don’t think about spending huge amounts of money on trying to do this absurd scheme and giving it to NHS
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    If DWP will collect bank info as soon as Fraud is (suspected )its an open doorway for them to look at people’s financial transactions and personal info. Which is not acceptable. We have the right to privacy as does everyone else.  
    What we need to know is what is the criteria that they will use in order (to suspect). This is a gateway for claimants to be further harassed, causing more upset stress and in Some cases suicide. 
    What on earth is the Likely hood of this happening. ?
    We live in the UK not Russia. It feels like we are heading towards  a Communist state. His help anyone who is Disabled. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    This falls inline with digital banking.....it will come to a situation where money is stopped because you've spent it somewhere they don't agree with and that's not up to them. With regard to PIP, I've been getting PIP for multiple years now and my conditions aren't getting any better in fact I'm having more issues that cause issues. Liked trapped ulna nerves in both arms causing pins and needles, pain, discomfort etc etc. I have not received a decision about my PIP and they have had my form for months now. I am still getting PIP but so much is going on, pushing people onto UC, taking warmer homes scheme payments away from people on qualifying benefits.....it goes on and won't stop.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    1984 - Big Brother is watching you!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    This has already happened to me, Im supposedly in the 'protected' group, with 2 consultants and my own GP testifying that I was unable to work and wouldnt be able to in the future, Ive been claiming PIP and UC for just over 2 yrs now. I was contacted via my journal and asked to produce 6 months of bank statements, when questioned the reply was 'to check if Ive been recieving the right benefits' which is a load of tosh, they just want to look at how my benefits are being spent.  Ive got nothing to hide so I sent them off.  This does make me feel somewhat intimidated, its not nice having my life being poured over by some office pen pushers.  To cap it off I've had one telephone review postponed until a week later, a new appointment set up that resulted in a 'no call' when questioned it took 24hrs for them to reply via journal and make an appointment for today....im not holding my breath!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 7 months ago
      @Paul But they have told me to supply bank account statement and asked me to send details of all transactions made and anything over £350.00 to supply receipts for if I have them and if not to explain why???   What in gods name is going on?  It’s none of their business what groceries I spend my benefits on so they will get my statements showing my benefits received and my outgoings will be redacted…when will this harassing behaviour end?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 10 months ago
      @Karen Rawlinson They should surely have a record of what payments they have sent to you
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 months ago
      @Karen Rawlinson Funny how fast they can work when it might benefit them, i have been waiting over 50 months for a trial date for backpay for being put on the wrong benefit and losing out on nearly £350 per month, if they trained frontline staff properly they would not need to investigate people further down the line, saving money and resources, they already have access to your medical files as you give this when you first claim with them, everyone not on the basic benefit signs to allow them access if required 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 months ago
      @Karen Rawlinson You could have sent them a REDACTED copy of your bank statements only showing the benefits income. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 months ago
      @Karen Rawlinson They have no right to see how benefits are spent. You can redact all outgoings. Of course they won't tell you this. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 months ago
    Another very worrying potential for use of AI algorithms to sift through claimants personal details. It’s hard to imagine this would be undertaken by mere mortals. Immoral, unethical & disgusting!!!

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