Are you happy for the government to automatically have the ability to have a look at your bank account?

[LeRougeEtLeNoir]

So the government wants (and very likely will get) the ability to look at the bank account of anyone receiving

• UC
• a pension
• child benefit
• PIP etc…

How comfortable are you to see them been able to do that? Even though a pension or child benefit isn’t income related so there is no fraud to tackle. And they won’t tell you about it either. I mean that’s about every single one of us there.

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/new-legislation-gives-government-permission-to-snoop-on-your-bank-account-364408/?fbclid=IwAR3XA89weQHzsIEN7A2TSigPcWM183fGKTkH7ByaainNVTcgeR8e0RXAr24

I guess it's just the bank account my pension goes into, not my other bank accounts

There isn't a word in the English language strong enough to express how much I oppose this.

No I'm not. This is chilling.

I can quite imagine my PIP for mobility being suspended because 'I keep going shopping'.

Yeah, that's my carer with my bank card ...

Or maybe they'll suspend my PIP for daily living because that card is buying the wrong kind of shopping?

Yeah, those are things that I buy with my freelance income ...

Meanwhile, the last thing the DWP will do is communicate with HMRC to go after all the men evading child support.

I feel like if your in receipt of benefits then I'm all for it if it stops illegal claims.

I'm not a bit concerned because I'm not claiming benefits that I'm Not entitled to. If you've nothing to hide nothing will happen. An algorithm will flag up if a bank account has UC and is over a certain amount in credit. So what?

I don't receive anything from the state. However, I have nothing to hide - the government can look at my boring list of direct debits for bills and supermarket shops if it wants to.

Because the DWP will SUSPEND innocent people's benefits indefinitely causing preventable harm to vulnerable children in disadvantaged families, and to disabled people, while 'investigating' its own AI-formulated fuck-ups.

No money, no rent. No money, no heating. No money, no food.

The pension is included as it opens up the ability to get pension credit if you get the state pension.

Exactly.

No. It's invasive and authoritarian and I was disgusted when I heard about it. And not because I have got anything to hide.

When they announce they're going to do the same with every bank account held in offshore tax havens in UK overseas territories, I might feel better about it.

Every year (2010) since I’ve had a look at the numbers, the amount of money the government spends on trying to catch benefit fraud absolutely dwarfs any wrongdoing they find.

People who are more likely not to claim even though they’re eligible. So much goes unclaimed every year!

No I'm not happy and have changed the account all my benefits go into. I will then withdraw it in cash and pay it into another account to pay my bills! They will have nothing to look at..... how about we start looking at MPs accounts and what they are claiming "expenses" for?

For those say ‘i have nothing to hide’, well I don’t either.

But you realise that it also means they will know what you are spending your money on right? And start saying ‘well if you need benefits that much, you shouldn’t be spending money buying xyz’
Or that pensioners have their state pension but (let’s say) 52% of them have another source of income so there is no need for a state pension anymore?

Nope, all of them.

They'll have to be absolutely sure that there isn't any money squirrelled away for Christmas/bills if you find yourself needing care following a fall or stroke. After all, you might have given a grandchild a gift a couple of years ago which could be interpreted as intentional deprivation of capital.

Nothing to hide, so no issue with it.

Even happier if it reduces fraud.

They already have information . My Uc they know how much I earned every month anyway .

I have nothing to hide however doesn’t mean I want the government looking for no reason .

it is chilling how many people are willing handing over control to the government

it is also amazing how much people worry about benefit fraud . Look at the ridiculous expenses of mps , all the loopholes - the rich and companies use to save billions .

you are been blindsided.

It wouldn't bother me. I assumed that they did already.

Or maybe they'll suspend my PIP for daily living because that card is buying the wrong kind of shopping?

Nobody would have time for that.

I think they’ll get a balance in and balance out - that’s all they need not your Asda shop.

Some people are making a mockery of the system and others are struggling - if it equates to a fairer system I’m all for it.

I don't get benefits, I am decades away from a pension and I don't have children. I have nothing to hide and am not the target of it.

I could not oppose more to this idea - it's chilling, to me. If there is one thing this government has shown over recent years it's that they are too keen for power that they absolutely cannot be trusted with.

It's a good thing if it stops fraud

This!! It's just another Tory punishment for "the poor people". I'd prefer them to go after tax fraud by their rich buddies. I imagine the UK overall loses far more money that way than by benefit fraud. It's just easier to target people on benefits as they're less likely to be able to fight back and are much less like to vote Tory.

It's not just poor people, a lot of very rich people claim the state pension.

I’m nit quite sure which accounts they’ll have access to tbh.
it sounds logical it’s the one you receive your benefit/pension in. BUT…. When DWP does an investigation, it can tell and ask bank statements if every single bank account you have, incl the ones you haven’t used for years.
I suspect they’ll want and get access to those too, seeing that it’s about ‘tackling fraud’.

The clamouring to be locked down have shown them what they can get away with. People showed them what they wanted. This is the entirely predictable result

I don't claim any of those and also have nothing to hide but I still despise this. Plenty of fraud goes on in this country that costs billions and deprives HMRC of billions in taxes; but no, people on benefits most of whom already have to submit proof of savings and income etc are more important to the government. I wonder why that is. I also wonder why it includes child benefit recipients and PIP (possibly others) that aren't income related? 🤔 also agree with a PP, why not target feckless fathers who don't pay maintenance for their children?