The UK’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is on track to gain sweeping new powers to access and monitor people’s bank accounts, with Parliament expected to approve the measures later this year. Part of Labour’s Fraud, Error and Debt Bill, the proposals would allow the DWP to compel banks and building societies to hand over detailed account information on social security claimants, including names, birthdates, account numbers, and indicators tied to eligibility rules. Officials say the move will help identify fraud, citing the £16,000 savings cap that typically disqualifies someone from receiving Universal Credit. The plan would be phased in over a year, starting with a smaller pool of financial institutions before expanding nationwide.

The bill also grants the DWP the authority to issue “Direct Deduction Orders” — enabling them to pull money directly from wages or bank accounts without court approval. While the government frames this as the “biggest fraud crackdown in a generation,” aiming to save £1.5 billion over five years, civil liberties groups like Big Brother Watch warn it’s an “intrusive” step toward mass financial surveillance. Critics argue it risks creating a system where everyday transactions are tracked and monitored by the state on an unprecedented scale.

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SOURCE: Reclaim the Net