Overview
- Peers take up the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill at report stage today, with further debate due October 21 on amendments covering overpayment recovery from bank accounts and Carer’s Allowance issues.
- The DWP plans to start implementation from April 2026 using a test‑and‑learn approach, initially targeting Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance and Pension Credit.
- Banks will receive Eligibility Verification Notices to match benefit‑linked accounts against DWP‑set indicators, with any flags referred for inquiry and no entitlement decisions made on this data alone.
- Checks will look for 18 categories of capital and related indicators, including whether a Universal Credit claimant exceeds the £16,000 savings limit, with no direct access to how people spend their money.
- Charities warn of suspicionless, algorithmic surveillance and cite Horizon‑style risks, while the DWP rejects the claims, pledging proportionate use, oversight and staff training, and forecasting about £1.5 billion in savings over five years.