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Written question asked by Alison McGovern (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 March 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 23 March 2023. It was answered by Tom Pursglove (Conservative) on Monday, 27 March 2023 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps his Department has taken to share data with banks for the purpose of fraud (a) prevention and (b) protection.

Answer

We have interpreted your question as being about the department’s ambition to access greater data from third parties to help tackle fraud and error.

Under current legislation, Authorised Officers from the DWP are able to obtain information from specified persons and organisations (this includes: banks, credit unions, friendly societies, industrial and provident societies) about their customers to help detect benefit fraud. Authorised Officers may use the powers when it is necessary and proportionate and in accordance with relevant legislation, to prevent, detect and secure evidence of benefit fraud.

The Government will legislate, when parliamentary time allows, for additional powers to require access to data from third parties, in particular banks, to enable the department to more proactively identify potential fraud, such as where claimants might have savings above the capital limit.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
170586
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Data protection Bank services Fraud Social security benefits Information sharing
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk