The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has begun contacting bank providers to verify the details of people receiving three benefits as part of new anti-fraud measures. Bank officials will be tasked with identifying accounts linked to claimants who may not be eligible to receive their payments.
New powers take effect
Known as the Eligibility Verification Notice, this new power became law in December 2025, and the first notices have now been issued. The aim is to prevent wrongful and fraudulent benefit payments. The legislation also includes new powers to directly take an amount from a person's bank account if they are persistently refusing to repay a debt.
DWP minister for Innovation, Fraud and Debt, Lilian Greenwood, said: "Benefit fraudsters should be looking over their shoulder. These new powers will help us crack down on those who deliberately abuse the system, while ensuring people receive the right support at the right time.
"We are not interested in where people do their weekly shop or how much they're spending on new clothes. Banks will simply be asked to identify if somebody may no longer meet the rules for the benefits they receive, allowing us to investigate further where necessary."
What the checks involve
The DWP will not have access to people's bank accounts or their transaction history. Banks will instead be asked to check relevant benefit-receiving accounts they provide against certain eligibility rules for the benefits. If an account is flagged, DWP investigators may carry out further enquiries.
This is part of a wider suite of new powers which the Government hopes will save £14.6 billion over the next five years in wrongful payments.
Benefits being checked
The bank account checks will initially be used to verify the details of people receiving these three benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Employment and Support Allowance
The legislation sets out that this could be expanded to include other benefits. The rollout of the verification measure is starting with a test-and-learn phase, before proceeding to a wider rollout. An independent overseer will overlook the use of the new powers in the legislation.
Bank account deduction powers
Also brought in under the new laws is a power for DWP officials to directly deduct an amount from a person's bank account. This measure will only be used when the department has repeatedly sought to claw back the funds and the person is refusing to comply. It is intended to target people who have left the benefits system, as previously the DWP could only get back funds by deductions from a benefit award, or through a person's PAYE earnings.
In using the bank raid powers, the DWP will request at least three months of bank statements for the bank account, to be sure the person has the cash available. The debtor will also be given advance notice before the amount is taken to give them an opportunity to dispute the matter.
