The DWP is launching a significant crackdown on benefit fraud, aiming to protect taxpayers and ensure fair access to benefits for all.
London: The government is stepping up its game against benefit fraud. They’re saying that last year, fraudsters cheated the DWP out of a whopping £7 billion. That’s a lot of money! So, they’re rolling out new laws to help tackle this issue.
So, what does this mean for regular folks who rely on benefits? Well, if someone is caught defrauding the system for £1,000 or more, they could face some serious consequences. The DWP might even suspend their driving license for up to two years if they ignore repayment requests.
Liz Kendall, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, made it clear that they’re serious about stopping criminals from taking advantage of the system. She said they’re turning off the money tap for those who cheat and steal from honest taxpayers.
Investigators will also get more power to apply for search warrants. This means they can team up with the police to search a fraudster’s home and seize evidence, like computers and smartphones, to help build their case.
On top of that, the DWP will have the ability to recover money directly from the bank accounts of those who owe them but refuse to pay. They can even ask for bank statements to check if someone has enough cash to repay their debt.
But don’t worry, the DWP assures that they won’t have direct access to anyone’s bank accounts. They say these changes won’t really affect honest claimants. The whole idea is to modernize how they catch fraudsters while also protecting vulnerable customers.
In addition, the Cabinet Office’s Public Sector Fraud Authority is getting some new powers too. They’re extending the time limit for civil claims related to Covid fraud from six years to twelve. This gives them more time to investigate and take action against those who stole public money during the pandemic.
Georgia Gould from the Cabinet Office highlighted that during the pandemic, some people took advantage of the situation and stole funds meant to help others. This new legislation aims to give the government the tools they need to recover that money and hold fraudsters accountable.
