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UK Government Grants DWP Power to Seize Money from Bank Accounts in £7.3bn Benefit Fraud Crackdown

Oct 19, 2024, 10:16 PM

The UK government has announced a new crackdown on benefit fraud, granting the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) the authority to take money directly from bank accounts and wage slips. This reform, spearheaded by Liz Kendall, aims to address outdated measures and reduce the significant financial impact of fraud, which cost taxpayers a record £7.3 billion last year. The new powers will allow officials to request information from claimants' bank accounts, a move that has sparked concerns about privacy and government overreach. Benefits cheats could have their bank accounts raided as part of this initiative.