The DWP’s new powers allow direct deductions from benefits, raising concerns about potential wrongful targeting of vulnerable individuals amid fraud investigations.
Birmingham: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is facing criticism. They now have new powers to directly deduct money from benefits. This is meant to tackle suspected fraud. However, many worry this could unfairly affect vulnerable people.
Sabrina McCullough from Money Wellness is one of the critics. She says it’s important to check if people can afford to repay before taking money directly from their accounts. She believes the government should help those who make honest mistakes, not just those who commit fraud.
McCullough emphasizes that understanding a person’s financial situation is crucial. She suggests referring people to free debt advice services first. This way, they can create a manageable repayment plan without pushing them into crisis.
She also points out that the government needs to differentiate between serious fraud and genuine errors. Many people struggle with the complex benefits system, and it’s easy to make mistakes.
Ben Fleming, a financial crime analyst, adds that mistakes in benefit assessments happen often. He warns that innocent people could be unfairly targeted. If checks aren’t done consistently, vulnerable groups may suffer even more.
He mentions that benefits like Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) could face more scrutiny. These benefits often rely on subjective assessments, which can be tricky. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction might also be affected due to the financial pressure on local authorities.
