Gov Access to Bank Accounts for those in receipt of SP

Bostonerimus1

Without a link to the actual proposal we should not get agitated yet. We should be aware that this was tweeted by a Labour MP and despite my inclination to vote to the left of centre I wonder if generating outrage for political purposes is part of the objective. So I'd like to get more information and see it in context.

stripling

Bostonerimus1 said:

Without a link to the actual proposal we should not get agitated yet. We should be aware that this was tweeted by a Labour MP and despite my inclination to vote to the left of centre I wonder if generating outrage for political purposes is part of the objective. So I'd like to get more information and see it in context.

It was on video, it wasn't for outrage it was a House of Commons question that had no credible answer.  The criticism /votes against the amendment were cross-party. So this is not party-political.   You can go read the Bill & it's last minute amendment any time on the HoC website but I'll post analysis here when it arises.   

maxmycardagain

basketcase said:

Withdraw any money not used for fixed expenses and pay by cash (or maybe paypal...?)

which is why pensioners keep shoeboxes under the bed 

stripling

LHW99 said:

Monitoring it will be via algorithms........

So if they decideyou're dead and shouldn't be getting a pension you've really had it

Lol.... "The computer says you are deceased, dead, non-existent for pension purposes."  BTW here's your tax bill you have 28 days to pay. 😂

stripling

Bostonerimus1 said:

Without a link to the actual proposal we should not get agitated yet. We should be aware that this was tweeted by a Labour MP and despite my inclination to vote to the left of centre I wonder if generating outrage for political purposes is part of the objective. So I'd like to get more information and see it in context.

Here - scroll down to the exchanges starting with Sir Steven Timms go on down through David Davies etc.,  https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-11-29/debates/46EF0AA6-C729-4751-A3DA-6A3683EB8B87/DataProtectionAndDigitalInformationBill#contribution-5AD0ED31-0F21-49BD-B777-B17F8A813C8E

Whittingdale is really slippery in his answers and tries to avoid answering the question as to why this amendment to the Bill wants to include anyone in receipt of the state pension. 

Let's hope the Lords block it. It's disturbing. 

woolly_wombat

The only possible valid reason that I can think of for this is to check that people are not fraudulently claiming Pension Credit when they have undeclared savings that would make them ineligible.

stripling

woolly_wombat said:

The only possible valid reason that I can think of for this is to check that people are not fraudulently claiming Pension Credit when they have undeclared savings that would make them ineligible.

Er, then it would be directed at Pension Credit claimants (which are a very small percentage) not at ALL people in receipt of the state pension. They already have powers to investigate bank accounts for means-tested benefits like PC - this is not for any specified reason and state pensions aren't means tested.  

I agree, there's no valid reason plus it's very authoritarian. Which is why those investigating it suspect it is the imposition of frameworks for means testing and thus the beginning of the end of the state pension. 

basketcase

stripling said:

LHW99 said:

Monitoring it will be via algorithms........

So if they decideyou're dead and shouldn't be getting a pension you've really had it

Lol.... "The computer says you are deceased, dead, non-existent for pension purposes."  BTW here's your tax bill you have 28 days to pay. 😂

You have ceased to be.  You are an ex-pensioner?! 

pinnks

To be clear, this is not a measure aimed at the state pension.  It is a new power that enables, essentially, DWP investigators, to require banks to provide information about the accounts of any person who has received a state benefit. It is because the state pension is, legally speaking, a benefit that it, too, is caught, meaning all of us will ultimately be in the (potentially) in the crosshairs.

If you want to read the amendment as tabled, which I believe stands part of the Bill that was passed by the Commons, you can go to datapro_rm_rep_1128.pdf (parliament.uk) and look at Schedule 3B, starting on page 121.  Whether the Act will read the same as that is, of course, not yet known, but it is this wording, I believe, that has given rise to all the "noise". 

dealyboy

@pinnks said:

To be clear, this is not a measure aimed at the state pension.  It is a new power that enables, essentially, DWP investigators, to require banks to provide information about the accounts of any person who has received a state benefit. It is because the state pension is, legally speaking, a benefit that it, too, is caught, meaning all of us will ultimately be in the (potentially) in the crosshairs.

If you want to read the amendment as tabled, which I believe stands part of the Bill that was passed by the Commons, you can go to datapro_rm_rep_1128.pdf (parliament.uk) and look at Schedule 3B, starting on page 121.  Whether the Act will read the same as that is, of course, not yet known, but it is this wording, I believe, that has given rise to all the "noise". 

Wow ... I just read The Sun.