Does DWP have authority to look at bank statements without permission?

Delphinium_Blue

When applying for a new benefit, moving from ESA to JSA for example, does the DWP routinely look into a claimant's bank statements when deciding entitlement (having got bank details for payment) - or do they need a good reason before doing this??

[Deleted User]

They can and do request bank statements anytime they want to decide if you are eligible or still eligible for payments. Your choice to refuse but to do so will probably deny you payment.

TELLIT01

DWP will ask for bank statements if they need them. They won't just go to the bank for information unless it's a fraud investigation, and even then they would need authorisation to access the statements.
If a claimant is asked for bank statements and fails / refuses to provide them their benefit is likely to be suspended or stopped.

tomtom256

TELLIT01 wrote: »

DWP will ask for bank statements if they need them. They won't just go to the bank for information unless it's a fraud investigation, and even then they would need authorisation to access the statements.
If a claimant is asked for bank statements and fails / refuses to provide them their benefit is likely to be suspended or stopped.

Wrong, don't need authorisation for bank statements where fraud is involved. We can get them under the Social Security Fraud Act.

rockingbilly

I still don't know why people are surprised. To have a hoard of cash in a bank account that is not declared is ridiculous. On the other hand I do find it also amusing that you have 'contestants' on the Jeremy Kyle show that complain that a substantial amount of money had been stolen from their safe in the bedroom.

NYM

Delphinium_Blue wrote: »

When applying for a new benefit, moving from ESA to JSA for example, does the DWP routinely look into a claimant's bank statements when deciding entitlement (having got bank details for payment) - or do they need a good reason before doing this??

Yes, they can.
Hopefully, you notified them of the inheritance you received??
If not, they'll probably soon find out about it.

Marktheshark

They can obtain a RIPA warrant, which only require a signature of a senior staff member.
They were used hundred of thousands of times last year for some utterly bizarre reasons and some people were subjected to 24/7 surveillance for months over things as trivial as school places and putting the wrong rubbish in a bin (this is not a joke) .

All authority can and will abuse any power given to it to the full extent.

You can request if you were subjected to a RIPA warrant by writing to the authority concerned.

TELLIT01

tomtom256 wrote: »

Wrong, don't need authorisation for bank statements where fraud is involved. We can get them under the Social Security Fraud Act.

Surely the Act is the authorisation?

tomtom256

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Surely the Act is the authorisation?

Semantics, I thought you meant customers authorisation.

But yes that is the investigators authorisation as such.

theronstar

Slightly off topic but I just wanted to share some funny stories with you.

A work coach once told me about a claimant he was trying to do budgeting with.

The coach assumed that the claimant would put £73 (JSA) in the incomings column on the sheet of paper.

Instead, the claimant wrote £2000. The work coach asked why he had wrote that figure down. The claimant responded that it was his average cash in hand earnings, a month from his drug sales.

The work coach asked him if he was sure he didn't want to fill in a fresh form simply stating £73.

Another work coach told me that they had a claimant who used to sign on with a different name with a different advisor at the same jobcentre every week. He complained to his manager but nobody did anything about it.

usahdw762GY

The requirements for JSA, ESA, Universal Credit is that you to have less than £5000 in the bank otherwise the payment will get reduced. If you have over £16,000 then you will get nothing. Therefore the reason the ask for fully itemised bank statement to assess your entitlement is false. You can filter your statement in many different ways with any online bank so only relevant information is provided, but the DWP say you are not allowed to use filters.
It is understandable that they want to see incoming payments to see if you have any other income, but what right have they to access your out goings. Where you shop, whether you have drunk alcohol recently in a bar, where you go out, the grocery store you use, maybe you are making regular cash withdrawals which might suggest a drug problem. This request for your personal private data is excessive and has nothing to do with assessing your claim.
If they want to know what your rent is you can produce the lease etc. If you question them about it they tell you that you dont' need to apply for benefits if thats the way you feel, as if an unemployed person has a choice.