Can the council or government know what bank accounts you have?

Geoff9999

In a claim form it asks what bank accounts you have, I wondered if you forgot to put an old bank account you forgot about if the claims handler could know about that? Is there a central database or something like that?

huckster

Yes there are ways that Government can find out what Bank accounts people have.  
Anti-fraud measures are built into the UK system.  
Have heard/read of many cases where people suddenly receive a request from a Government department asking them to confirm savings details, within weeks of having a large credit amount entering their account e.g. an inheritance.  
Suggest people are honest with the information they disclose and make sure that if their finances change, that they report the change in circumstances.

tomtom256

Geoff9999 said:

In a claim form it asks what bank accounts you have, I wondered if you forgot to put an old bank account you forgot about if the claims handler could know about that? Is there a central database or something like that?

So you forgot about an old account and have now suddenly found it again, just report it as a change of circumstances.

sharpe106

I would guess they would not be bothered to much over people that had really forgotten about an old bank account or two. As most of these will have very little money in otherwise the person would not have forgotten about it. If you have £50,000 or something in an account that you claim you have forgotten I am sure they would be a lot more interested as how many people claiming benefits are rich enough to forgot that amount.  

Geoff9999

Yes but does anyone know if there is a central database where it lists everybody's accounts? 

Browntoa

Yes. It's called Experian or other credit reference agencies.

Name , address , DOB etc throws up a list of all bank accounts , loans , credit cards etc