Truly shocked by Tory bank trials for benefit claimants.

[caringcarer]

When Tory's suggested looking at people's bank accounts to stop benefit fraud I thought they might catch out just a few people so it would be pointless doing it. I've just seen this article in local press and I couldn't believe my eyes about the number of bank accounts having an average of £50k yet claiming UC or low income benefits fraudulently. It was a real eye opener. Anyone else shocked?

www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/uk-news/dwp-tries-bank-account-checks-29191387

Benefits should only be for people in a precarious situation.
Many who don't get benefits struggle to attain 16k in savings so why should they contribute to others so they can keep their 50k

Yeah that's because the OPs maybe work the rest of the week. You know, getting tax paid and all that.

What have you got to hide, Faeryring?

Precisely. Free loaders should be allowed.

You won’t catch me arguing with that but every time the subject of benefits is brought up there’s so much Tory whataboutery, some people really are truly desperate to never put benefits under any kind of scrutiny, and call anyone a bigot who says maybe not EVERYONE claiming is sincere (as this article proves).

If benefits are being fraudulently claimed by some 8% of people, that’s £4 billion a year.

It’s not a negligible figure, its more than the private school VAT total, it’s more than ending non-dom status, and its more than the cost of ‘dodgy covid contracts’.

The aforementioned figures are regularly touted on here as worth being chased up, so why isn’t this?

And how many of these are pensioners? Or on PIP which isn't means tested?
Oh, it doesn't say. How convenient

It's not even a high % as it stands and it's likely the % of this number that constitutes actual fraud is much lower. So even if these figures are accurate (debatable) I think "shocked" is an overreaction.

You got me - I’m a very wealthy Tory donor with many skeletons in the closet, taking to Mumsnet to blame a tiny number of defrauding benefit claimants and fight for my interests.

Either that or I’m a 32 year old mum of 2 on 27k a year, you decide

Read the bloody article if you want convenience, it specifically says low income benefits.

Benefits claiments are a soft target. Meanwhile we are surrounded by money laundering, fraud and tax evasion that just goes on in plain sight. It would be marvellous if the government would look into those. Oh wait...

So why isn’t labour promising to end that and use the resulting trillions to implement whatever we want and make society amazing?

Lol

I think either a labour or conservative govt. will crack down on this.

I am not sure what is in any way controversial to anyone about stopping the benefits (and prosecuting someone) who has 50k in the bank but continues to defraud the state.

Yes this precisely.

The detail is deliberately hidden. To drive the anger.

Yes, let's just ignore the truth when it shows that benefit claimants aren't the salt of the earth.

READ THE ARTICLE!

It specifically says low income benefits

Not PIP, not pensions.

What's shocking me is that this check isn't routine!

Just look at the comments literally refusing to read it and throwing toys out of the pram because, after beating the ‘fraud is a tiny issue’ drum for years, they’re embarrassed to be proved wrong!

Having 50k doesn't automatically mean they are defrauding, that's the point. You've jumped to the worst conclusion which is the intended outcome - you're allowing yourself to be emotionally manipulated by a political party, which is not a healthy place for you to be in as you're having your chain pulled.

In some situations people are allowed capital - for example if paid out for an injury that means they can't work.

It does but it can't even get the capital limit for Pension Credit right.

The article doesn't show fraud, it shows balances.

It is amazing how little understanding there is of the system, really.

That.

Exactly.

Pension is income.

Op the only thing that shocks me is people like you who rent out 11 homes and still claim benefits yourself !

This is the sort of check and policy that will actually save money , not targeting those on pip etc. the rules re savings are clear for UC so account checks are a good thing

if that’s the case they will have been able to declare it - at the time of UC application is specifically asks for account balance/ s and you are made aware to notify of any changes