The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed it will impose "immediate" driving bans on benefits claimants under new powers, with disqualifications lasting up to two years. The measures, introduced by the Labour government, are designed to clamp down on benefit fraud and error.
Under the new powers, the DWP can "apply to the court" for an order that, if breached, could result in individuals being temporarily disqualified from driving. The changes will be rolled out from October under the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Conditions for licence cancellation
The DWP has set out specific parameters for when the powers will be used. The measures are reserved for claimants with outstanding debts totalling more than £1,000. The powers will only be exercised when recovery of that money is "not reasonably possible by any other means."
Where the disqualification from driving power is to be applied, the individual will be notified in writing, which will include details of the court hearing. A suspended order will always be made in the first instance, and under this order, the court will set repayment terms.
Process and further applications
If the claimant fails to provide a reasonable excuse for missing a payment, the DWP will make a further application to the court for an immediate disqualification order. If granted, this would disqualify the individual from driving for up to two years, the DWP has warned.
The DWP will give the individual the opportunity to provide and evidence any reasonable excuse for missing the payment before deciding whether to make an application to the court for an immediate driving disqualification order, it says.
Government savings target
This is part of the Government's commitment to savings of £14.6 billion over the next five years from fraud, error, and debt activity. The new powers mark a significant expansion of the DWP's enforcement toolkit, targeting those who owe significant sums and have failed to repay despite other recovery methods being exhausted.
