The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the six specific details banks and financial institutions will be required to hand over for claimants of Universal Credit, Pension Credit, and the New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) under new Eligibility Verification Measure (EVM) powers announced on Tuesday.
The EVM powers require banks to provide information when requested by the DWP to “identify incorrect benefit payments”. The DWP stressed that it “cannot log into your online banking or see your account in real time”.
What details banks will share
According to DWP guidance, banks can be required to flag accounts where there is a possibility of fraud or error. The checks can include joint accounts and any other account into which the relevant benefits are paid.
Where the criteria are met, banks may supply the following six details:
- Account holder names
- Account numbers
- Sort codes
- Details of linked and joint accounts
- Information about balance
- Dates of transactions abroad
Benefits and Work, a leading disability forum, said: “They cannot supply full statements, transaction histories, spending details, specific transaction locations or sensitive information such as religious beliefs.”
What the DWP cannot access
The DWP cannot access your online banking or watch your account in real time. The guidance makes clear that the department cannot see “full statements or transactions”, will not be able to see how you spend your money, and will not be able to locate specific transaction locations or obtain “sensitive personal information about your background, such as political opinions or religious beliefs”.
“Linked accounts are other accounts held by someone who holds the account receiving the relevant benefit payment. These could include savings accounts which do not receive any benefit payments,” Benefits and Work added.
Who is affected and oversight
Non-claimants can be affected, including appointees receiving someone else’s benefit into a personal account. The measure applies to those receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or the New Style Employment and Support Allowance.
The DWP added: “An independent reviewer will check that DWP, banks and other financial institutions have followed the law, amongst other things. Their reports will be presented to Parliament.”
