The DWP plans to check bank accounts of non-benefit claimants to tackle fraud. New powers will allow investigators to recover owed money directly from accounts.
DWP’s serious organised crime investigators will now be able to ask courts for search warrants. This means they can work with the police to raid places and seize items like computers and smartphones. They want to gather evidence against those committing fraud.
The DWP also mentioned they can take money directly from bank accounts of people who owe them. This applies to those not on benefits or in PAYE jobs who refuse to pay back what they owe.
Alison McGovern, the Employment Minister, explained these measures on Sky News. She said they can currently recover money through the benefits system. But for those not on benefits, they need the ability to take money directly from bank accounts.
If someone still refuses to pay, the DWP may ask courts to disqualify them from driving. This power already exists in the Child Maintenance Service, showing it can work.
These new powers will come from the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill. This bill allows the government to seek court help for driving disqualifications. Courts can suspend driving licenses if they believe someone has not paid what they owe without a good reason.
