Fraud investigators will check the bank details of millions of benefit claimants

New DWP anti-fraud powers have been made law including measures to directly take funds from people's bank accounts this afternoon. Officials will also request bank details of millions of benefit claimants to check they are eligible to receive their payments.

The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error, and Recovery) Act received royal assent in the House of Lords this afternoon. The DWP confirmed it will use the direct deduction powers to take funds from "benefit cheats, fraudsters and debtors who can afford to repay but refuse".

The new laws even provide powers to suspend a person's driving licence if the DWP has tried to retrieve funds from them but has been unable to do so. The powers to directly take cas

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