Overview
- Pilots under the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill begin in April 2026 with a phased rollout completing between 2029 and 2031.
- Banks must use automated tools to spot specified indicators, then issue Eligibility Verification Notices to the DWP, with examples including savings above the £16,000 Universal Credit limit.
- The measures focus on means‑tested benefits initially targeting Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Employment and Support Allowance, with wider coverage reported to include Housing Benefit, Income Support, income‑based JSA, Council Tax Support and Tax Credits.
- The State Pension is explicitly out of scope and cannot be added by regulation, and officials stress limited data sharing, human decision‑making on cases and formal independent oversight.
- Ministers cite projected savings of about £940 million over five years and new recovery tools that can reclaim some debts directly from accounts, as privacy groups warn of intrusive financial checks.