Can Jobcentre demand to see my accounts?

dippy3103

slink85 wrote: »

yeah, they don't. they may ask, but you don't have to provide them, but they will delay your claim or wont process it until such evidence is provided.

but they have no 'right' to see your accounts without a court order.

Actually an authorised officer under the Social Security Fraud Act can obtain bank accounts. This is only if it's in relation to a fraud investigation though.

The DWP can request that you supply them & if you fail to do so, they can then not pay you as unable to fully verify the claim. In the circumstances this thread relates to, the request would be fairly routine.

Whilst they can not be excessively intrusive, they also have a duty to tax payers to ensure the money is paid correctly

NYM

It's all just 'playing' with words....

Demand to see your accounts...
Request your accounts...
Require sight of your accounts...
Asked to see your accounts...

Ultimately it just means that to progress your claim, they need to see your accounts.

It's your choice to provide them....or not.

slink85

dippy3103 wrote: »

Actually an authorised officer under the Social Security Fraud Act can obtain bank accounts. This is only if it's in relation to a fraud investigation though.

The DWP can request that you supply them & if you fail to do so, they can then not pay you as unable to fully verify the claim. In the circumstances this thread relates to, the request would be fairly routine.

Whilst they can not be excessively intrusive, they also have a duty to tax payers to ensure the money is paid correctly

they would still need a court order, no bank is just going to give them out willy nilly just because some jumped up DWP worker says so.

Bollotom

slink85 wrote: »

they would still need a court order, no bank is just going to give them out willy nilly just because some jumped up DWP worker says so.

They don't ask the bank. They ask you to produce statements. If, as has been said, you don't produce them then you don't get any money. Same as LA when claiming HB and CT, they also ask for bank statements.:cool:

dippy3103

slink85 wrote: »

they would still need a court order, no bank is just going to give them out willy nilly just because some jumped up DWP worker says so.

No they don't. Not if the statements are required as part of a fraud investigation. In that instance an authorised officer can use the Social Security Fraud Act powers to obtain them. I know this as I was an authorised officer in my last job.

However, if it's not a fraud investigation then they simply won't pay you, as they can't approach the bank directly.

Mersey_2

True.


Actually, banks, Insurers and Govt depts tend to use s 29(3) DPA to request and share info if they suspect fraud.


This is an exception clause in the Data Protection Act and its been ruled lawful in Judicial Reviews and European challenges more recently.

dippy3103

Mersey wrote: »

True.


Actually, banks, Insurers and Govt depts tend to use s 29(3) DPA to request and share info if they suspect fraud.


This is an exception clause in the Data Protection Act and its been ruled lawful in Judicial Reviews and European challenges more recently.

They can, but the banks can decline a 29(3) request. It's an offence to fail to comply with an authorised officers request if made under SSFA