The DWP has new powers to check bank accounts (Image: Getty)
The DWP will be able to check state pensioners’ bank accounts and find out exactly how much money is in them and issue fines to anyone claiming Pension Credit incorrectly or fraudulently.
New powers unveiled by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) will allow the government to directly obtain information from banks and building societies to check for fraud.
The new Eligibility Verification Measure (EVM) powers, announced on Tuesday, require banks and other financial institutions to provide information when requested by DWP to ‘identify incorrect benefit payments’.
Those receiving Pension Credit are among those who will be affected by the new powers.
Currently, to receive Pension Credit, you must be a state pensioner receiving state pension payments. But Pension Credit is means-tested, and only those who earn under the thresholds are eligible.
Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £238 if you’re single or £363.25 if you’re in a couple. The state pension, other private pensions, earnings from work and self-employment and other benefits like Carer’s Allowance, all count as income which could reduce your eligibility or payments.
Now, the DWP will be able to use its new powers to check if state pensioners are claiming the benefit fraudulently.
It means that the DWP will be able to find out various pieces of information about you without needing your permission.
It includes the names of account holders, the account numbers and how much money is in the accounts, as well as the date of any transactions if they took place in another country.
The DWP stressed that it ‘cannot log into your online banking or see your account in real time’.
The DWP urged anyone whose circumstances have changed, and therefore may no longer be eligible to receive the benefits they are currently receiving, or receive them at the same level, to get in touch to report a change of circumstances as ‘soon as possible’. Presumably, before the DWP finds out directly from your bank.
The DWP adds: “If you give wrong or incomplete information, or do not report a change in your circumstances, you may:
With the information shared by your bank, the DWP says it can then contact you to ask follow up questions which could result in your benefits being delayed or stopped entirely.
It said: “If information shared by your bank suggests you may be getting an incorrect benefit payment, DWP will review your claim.
“The review might find that:
the amount you’re receiving is incorrect.
“DWP may ask you to answer questions about your eligibility or ask you to provide further information to support your benefit claim.
“DWP will contact you through your online journal if you have an online account set up. If you do not have an online account, DWP may contact you by phone, letter or text message.
“You should respond as soon as possible to avoid your benefit payments being delayed or stopped.”
The DWP set out that it cannot see ‘full statements or transactions’, it won’t be able to see how you spend your money and it won’t be able to locate specific transaction locations, or obtain ‘sensitive personal information about your background, such as political opinions or religious beliefs’.
It added: “An independent reviewer will check that DWP, banks and other financial institutions have followed the law, amongst other things. Their reports will be presented to Parliament.”
