The DWP is to begin continuous surveillance of the bank accounts of all pension credit, universal credit and employment and support allowance claimants using powers under a bill currently going through Parliament.  The department have said that they intend to use their new power to force any third party to pass on data to them more widely in the future.

The power to compel third parties into providing any data that the DWP wants in order to search for fraud and error is being conferred in last minute amendments slipped into the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, which has now passed its third reading in the Commons and moved to the Lords.

Initially the DWP say that they will use their powers to oblige the UK’s top 15 banks to monitor the accounts of all means-tested benefits claimants and report every time an account goes over the  capital limit or is used abroad for more than four weeks.

Because every DWP payment into a bank account has an identifying code attached to it, all banks know exactly which of their customers is on benefits and which benefits they receive.

Setting up software to automatically send details to the DWP of every claimant account that goes over the capital limit or is used abroad for more than four weeks will be very straightforward for banks.

The DWP say that each identified claim will be investigated in the normal way and that penalties will not be automatically imposed.

At the moment, almost 9 million claimants would be caught in the surveillance net, including:

  • 5.8 million universal credit claimants
  • 1.6 million employment and support allowance claimants
  • 1.4 million pension credit claimants

Any bank failing to collect and pass on data to the DWP will be subject to heavy fines.

 The new system will begin to be rolled out in 2025, though all banks may not be fully involved before 2030.

The DWP estimates that it will cost around £30 million a year for them to investigate potential fraud identified by the new system, but that they will save £500 million a year through reduced fraud and error.  

They also estimate that over the first ten years, the new powers will result in 74,000 prosecution cases and 2,500 custodial sentences.  

There is no doubt that the DWP intend to use these new powers much more widely.  The impact assessment for the new powers says that:

“The power is not limited to a specific type of data or type of institution/Third-Party to allow us to fight new fraud and error issues as they emerge and engage with new institutions as efficient opportunities become available to us.”

Later, the same document says: 

“This measure is drafted broadly . . .  to enable DWP to apply this measure to non-financial organisations in future if it is deemed appropriate and proportionate”

The new surveillance powers for the DWP appear to enjoy cross party support. Only 51 MPs voted against the amendment, with 30 of those being SNP and just 7 each from Labour and the Lib Dems.

Anyone who imagines that the DWP will use such sweeping powers reasonably and proportionately probably hasn’t ever claimed benefits.

And they probably also don’t remember the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, which was brought in to combat terrorism and organised crime and ended up being used to spy on dog walkers, pigeon feeders and people putting out their wheelie bins too early.

Capital and abroad fraud account for less than 15% of benefits fraud and error. The DWP will want to delve into many other aspects of claimants lives in order to identify the other 85%.  This is, beyond doubt, the thin end of a very thick wedge.

You can download a copy of the amendments to the Data Protection and Digital information Bill here.  The Power To Require Information For Social Security Purposes section begins on page 98.

You can read the impact assessment for the DWP surveillance powers here.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    EJ · 4 days ago
    I've been a single working parent since seperating from my husband in 2022. Worked all my life and recently been off sick for the last 5 months. My employer refuses to make any accomodations for a return to work so I have reluctantly had to hand in my resignation today so I can look for something more suitable. I tell UC as I like to be totally up front and literally minutes later I get an email demanding bank statements and photo ID. How is this ok? They clearly thought my salary wasn't enough to run a household, hence the UC top up but now I'm unemployed I'm on less than half my salary including the SSP, I have no savings and they want to see if I'm trying to con them out of a few quid?? Make it make sense!!
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    Joe · 6 days ago
    So we're to be treated as guilty until proven innocent then? The police are not allowed to monitor people or thier transactions etc without being able to prove there is a reason to suspect criminal activity is taking place, yet because I get benefits I'm now going to be subject to to a system that assumes that I will commit a crime if I have the opportunity.

    Its a disgraceful and draconian abuse of power. 
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    A. Tod · 10 days ago
    does anybody know if they require all your ID or only Passport? You may have a British Passport, EU Passport and a driving license and any other IDs . Do they require all of them? 
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    A. Todd · 10 days ago
    It is definitely 4 months required by DWP / Universal Credit. I've heard from friend who was unable to provide the last statement from April 2024 , because some online saving accounts do not generate statements in every single month. You only can see your transactions online or on your phone up to 3 months, depending how old is you device. As a result, he had his benefit stopped or suspended until he provides the April 2024 statement. 
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    Liz · 1 months ago
    Hi,
    Can anyone tell me if you have to give four months bank statements when claiming U.C.  I was told and read online it was 2 months?
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    Akie · 3 months ago
    I’m a carer and find myself now in this position. I will not be sending my bank statements or anything else. I can’t afford to do loose my pittance I’m given in U/C and carers allowance but I feel I have done nothing wrong for them to justify treating me like a criminal 
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      L · 5 days ago
      @Akie I feel exactly the same. Complete invasion of privacy for £150 a month. No thanks 
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    Kark · 5 months ago
    They just contacted me, I'm currently ill with chronic fatigue and have been waiting for a hospital appointment for over 18 months and getting worse by the day. They demanded I send them back account statements for the past 4 months, pluss 2 photos of my driving licence and a 3rd of my head with the driving licence next to it, like a prison mugg shot with your number. They then ask for a driving license verification code from the DVLA. After this they wanted proof of my rent from the land lord at which point they said they would call me to discuss my bank account. They went through every transaction wanting to know what it was for and wanted to know what was been done with money I had got from the ATM. My balance is well below the £6000 limit and I've done nothing wrong. I feel like a criminal which is probably a deliberate aim of the DWP. If I ever recover from my illness I've sworn to seek justice from this appalling system, we have entered 1984 without a doubt.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      alex · 4 months ago
      @Kark
      Just awful.
      Benefit 'fraud' (mostly people just trying to survive on a pitiful payment) is miniscule compared with corporate abuses and tax evasion. Just madness.
      Doesn't make any rational sense.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Anon · 4 months ago
      @Kark They have no right to question transactions. There is nothing in the legislation that says what you can or can't spend benefits on. The only thing they should question are payments going into a bank account that aren't benefits or if savings are over the limit 
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    Citizen · 6 months ago
    We're already living in a Dictatotship.  Perhaps they ought to check politicians bank accounts, plenty of fraudulent activity going on there.  Serfdom isn't dead.
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    Concerned · 6 months ago
    Why are they targeting State Pensioners, only a proportion of whom get means tested benefits. Are they using this to target other state funding recipients such as those who get Child Benefit?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Pc · 2 months ago
      @Concerned People do side jobs to supplement their crap pension....which is taxable, so therefore constitutes Tax evasion!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Jenny · 7 months ago
    Hi I’ve been reading up on surveillance and human rights would this not fall under the right to privacy and go against article 8 of the UN and ECHR?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      mike paine · 3 months ago
      @Jenny its partially why the tories want to get rid of the human rights act, to treat people inhumanely 
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    David · 7 months ago
    It looks like we are heading towards a dictaship  
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    Lorna · 7 months ago
    I had a message yesterday 15th Feb 2024, saying I'd 've having a call about my UC review.  I was a bit confused because it's usually an awful form you have to fill in. However this is purely they want 4 months bank statements and a photo of my passport and me holding my passport 😕 ... I have 14 days to provide it all. I'm very confused
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Just infinity · 7 months ago
      @Lorna It's a trick..  They just want your consent (so they can impose this on u ) an inverted contract I'd say.  with u holding your passport and photo.. , there's their proof of your acquiesance..right there they got ya..  When or if they come for me lol : send the letter back(that way,  you haven't got the letter) ask them for the signature and the name of the living man or women who sent the letter ... Send by recorded signed for post, if you have an address
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      James · 7 months ago
      @Lorna Me too. I have PTSD. It's coercion under punitive threat of sanctions. 


      Quote:

      "If you do not complete these to-dos, then either:

      your payment COULD [empathise added] be stopped and then your claim MIGHT [empathise added] be closed
      [empathise added]
      I will not cede access to my bank account statements. However, I will discuss the review with an agent and ask them a series of pointed questions and record the conversation in case I need to pursue a civil lawsuit in case of sanctions (The bill is still at the reading stage and is not enshrined in law).




    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Arkham · 7 months ago
      @Lorna This is normal as i had one of these in november, these are being done as a lot of claims were made during covid and the bank statements ect were not requested back then. Pretty straight forward his is and nothing to worry about.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Jp · 7 months ago
    Does anyone know if non means tested benefits will be monitored as well?

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      Bob · 2 days ago
      @Jp None. 
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      Bob · 2 days ago
      @Jp Non means tested benefits don't need monitoring. PIP for instance, you can be a billionaire and claim it.
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      Andy · 7 months ago
      @Jp They will only give information to the DWP if you are making lots of transactions abroad or paying utilities in a foreign country. It is an offence not to tell the DWP that you have gone abroad or are living abroad. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Jp · 7 months ago
      @Andy Thanks.    It is just so wrong that they will be monitoring non means tested benefits people as well, and as I haven't been abroad in over 20 yrs so its not irrelevant to me.

      What kind of information will the banks be giving to the DWP then for non means tested people if there savings amount is irrelevant?     

      I understand the need to check for fraud etc but the UK is becoming more and more unrecognisable every day.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Andy · 7 months ago
      @Jp They have said PIP and state pension are going to be monitored, neither of these are means tested.
      From what I have gathered, the DWP will be checking these to make sure the claimant is living in the UK and hasn't gone abroad for an extended period or to live.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Linda · 7 months ago
    Please sign the petition on the Parliament website, search checking bank accounts
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    Joe · 7 months ago
    Does anyone have any idea when this will start? 
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    SG · 8 months ago
    There goes more of our human rights to privacy. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Eve · 1 months ago
      @A You'll need to change the account name to your son's name.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      A · 4 months ago
      @E No they ask for ALL accounts in your name!
      I have one that is savings for my son... Waiting to hear if that's allowed or not.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      E · 6 months ago
      @SG Is it only banks that benifits get paid into that are getting checked or if one has other accounts  that benifits don't get paid into or all?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Jon Burrows · 8 months ago
    There are hundreds of posts saying that it's a good ideas?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Brainbiter · 6 months ago
      @Jon Burrows People clamouring for more of what's killing them is nothing new. I remember some years ago publicity devoted to the RFID chip that included several Swedish university students extolling the virtues of no longer carrying keys as they moved between departments. It seemed a hell of a price to pay for privacy, but all questioned the harm in continual surveillance for those who've done nothing wrong. Consider the moral imbecility of people trained at great public expense to think and to lead us into the future. Terrifying.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Shameonyou · 8 months ago
      @Jon Burrows Where?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      The Dog mother · 8 months ago
      @Jon Burrows Nothing good about it. 
      They are mostly those who feel they've nothing to hide saying it, so what's the problem?.
      We all have nothing to hide,but there's a principal at stake here.
      Who next? What next? Where will it lead.They are including pensioners on this facade.
      We might be sick and disabled but our dignity and self worth are eroded at the stroke of a pen.
      Why us? why.. we've done nothing other than be unwell. I didn't ask for my conditions nor do I want them.
      I'm not enjoying My life ,I'm not even living it in any real sense, mainly because I'm afraid to look out of my eyes incase I'm classed as being able to do things I honestly can't properly and called a fraud.
      I know many others on here are feeling likewise. I cannot believe this is 2024.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    ABC · 8 months ago
    Hi, what about a closed bank account? I moved banks about 6 months ago. Would they check the closed one from the old bank? Thanks
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    Paul Oakley · 8 months ago
    I past my pip review last year and was awarded 10 yrs on the 17th of January this year I've now had a letter for compliance telephone interview to discuss my benefit claim so in other words its from the fraud department this wasn't supposed to come into action until 2025 so this untrue I don't know why they have choose me because I have nothing to hide so everyone be alert and good luck 
    Paul
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      David White. · 5 months ago
      @Mary C Exactly,

      I had a second Compliance telephone interview some months ago and answered all the questions honestly, fully knowing I had nothing to worry about, even though they said in a previous letter that they suspected I had too much Capital which wasn't true (this second time around) and  several weeks later they sent me a letter to say they were completely happy and my Benefit was not affected at this time.

      Through my own experience, If you are totally honest with the Compliance Department there is completely nothing to worry about and in the event that any individual has too much undeclared Capital the DWP do not know about, it is best to always be honest and tell them as I once did back in 2021. All they will ask you to do is to pay the money back in installments, if you wish. Be aware though the DWP do sometimes make mistakes with their calculations (as once happened to me) and they asked me to pay far too much money back which over one year later I continued to dispute the overpayments which I believed were incorrect and was eventually refunded after they asked me to recalculate my Bank statements for the given period.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Rosie · 7 months ago
      @Paul Oakley Yes, you can claim pip even if you work full time. I heard they don’t investigate 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Andy · 8 months ago
      @Bob There is no £6000 for pip, you can be millionaire and claim it, if you are eligible 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Bob · 8 months ago
      @Paul Oakley It could be that you’ve gone over the £6000 limit 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Mary C · 8 months ago
      @Paul Oakley Complaince interviews are sometimes just totally random. Sometimes they are checking you are getting all you're entitled to. Dont assume its fraud department. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Quizzer · 8 months ago
    Surely these police powers being sought by DWP to scrutinise specific groups of claimants might be viewed as discrimatory.

    Under the 2010 Equaltiy Act disabled people should be treated the same as someone without disability and some of these benefits are specifically related to an individual's incapacity.

    How is benefit fraud any different to corporate or expenses fraud. How many MPs have committed fraud with their expenses claims?  Yvette Cooper and hubby for example made duplicate expenses claims and when discovered said neither had known that the other had claimed for the same expenses. How many policticians have banked their incomes abroad beyond reach of HMRC taxes? Therefore, should there be a case to monitor MP's bank accounts for error or fraud?

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Bob · 2 days ago
      @Mary C PIP isn't means tested so there's nothing to target in a financial sense. All other benefits are being done away with and UC will replace all.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Mary C · 8 months ago
      @Quizzer No as they are not targgwting disabled people. They are targeting a big range PC UC & ESA

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