Signing off due to Universal Credit checking bank statements - advice needed please

NedS

kaMelo said:

The data matching process will, I assume, operate in a similar way to a CRA or HMRC in that they are supplied with all the data. they then collate and assign the data to a person. That way the DWP will know about all your accounts, not just the ones that you've told them about.

I agree, as DWP already do data matching with HMRC to locate undeclared accounts based upon taxable interest receipts, I cannot imaging the fraud detection systems would be limited to only matching on accounts means-tested benefits are paid into. They can easily data match on Name and DoB (information all banks hold) to find all accounts a person holds, and sum the balances across all accounts for sums over £6k. I assume banks also hold NI numbers for reporting taxable income to HMRC which makes data matching even easier.

With nearly £1billion in fraud each year for undeclared capital, this should be a really easy win for DWP and the tax payer.

HillStreetBlues

It will depend of how the system is set up (if it become law) as they might so for something more simple to create less false positives.
They plan to check bank accounts to check overseas spending to see if anyone is out of GB longer than they should be, but this is very blunt and can easily be circumvented.

born_again

norwichsandwich said:

My friend has been claiming UC for a couple of years due to a genuine medical condition that prevents him from working. Unfortunately, the DWP no longer recognise the condition as being severe enough and say my friend is capable of work. My friend is 60 years old.

Now the DWP have asked my friend for the last 4 months of bank statements and and he is worried as he has been receiving additional financial help gifted from a family member (unfortunately, I do not know how much but it sounds like it totals over £3000 annually and it has been paid weekly) and this will be evident in the bank statements. My friend is panicking and is probably going to close his claim to avoid submitting the statements, but is concerned this will look suspicious and may trigger an investigation into his bank statements, anyway. Does anyone know whether this would happen? My friend has not knowingly committed fraud, as he has not been working, but is worried that he or his family member may get in trouble and have to repay all the benefits he's been claiming. 

If my friend simply closed his claim to avoid having to submit bank statements, could or would it still be investigated further? My friend has never been happy claiming in the first place as he has been made to feel that his medical condition is not genuine, when in fact he suffers a great deal of physical pain on a daily basis.

Does anyone have any up to date information and advice that could help, please?

Should not be a issue, so long as it is not taking them over the £6K or £16K savings limit, 
Receiving a payment such is not against the rules. Think of it like a working family member paying board.

Heightproduction

NedS said:

I don't / didn't think the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill gave DWP the right to snoop on claimant's bank statements in cases like this that are randomly selected for checks - I thought they had to have reasonable suspicion / evidence that fraud had been committed - i.e, it would be trained fraud CFCD officers, not the masses of UCR agents they have taken on to conduct these standard reviews. But I could be wrong!

I think you are right, though I noticed that the rules on savings above £6k gradually reducing the amount of UC per £250 held have kicked in so thought the snooper ones might have too.

Spoonie_Turtle

Heightproduction said:

NedS said:

I don't / didn't think the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill gave DWP the right to snoop on claimant's bank statements in cases like this that are randomly selected for checks - I thought they had to have reasonable suspicion / evidence that fraud had been committed - i.e, it would be trained fraud CFCD officers, not the masses of UCR agents they have taken on to conduct these standard reviews. But I could be wrong!

I think you are right, though I noticed that the rules on savings above £6k gradually reducing the amount of UC per £250 held have kicked in so thought the snooper ones might have too.

That's been the case for years already (I assume since the start, but can't be sure with the weird way they introduced UC).

jackyfaith

You're right that the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill generally requires the DWP to have reasonable suspicion or evidence of fraud before accessing bank statements. Routine checks should be conducted by fraud officers, not general agents. If your account is randomly selected, it may be part of a compliance review, but it’s always good to verify the legitimacy of the request. Some upbank reviews mention transparency, which can be helpful in similar situations. If unsure, consider consulting a legal advisor to ensure your rights are protected.