In a new policy to help prevent fraud and errors in the benefits system, claimants could be subjected to extensive investigations from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that could involve collecting data, reports Manchester Evening News.
The British Social Attitudes Survey published by the government department, has some interesting findings on how the public perceives fraud, error, and debt in the benefits system while exploring how acceptable the new proposed powers are. The potential legislative measures will include the ability for third parties to collect information from banks on where claimants are spending money.
The most recent DWP figures indicated that 22.8 million people across the UK are in receipt of at least one benefit, including State Pension, the Daily Record reports. The survey revealed that more than half (52 per cent) found the new proposal of collecting information where claimants spend money to be acceptable.
Read more: DWP to pay anyone with these 21 health issues up to £691 each month
Read more: DWP £600 payment to arrive this week as millions of people told to check bank accounts
However, only 2,127 completed the survey with half (50 per cent) saying they felt positive about the proposed new powers. Meanwhile, 62 per cent said fraud and error in the welfare system was a big problem while only three per cent did not see it as a problem at all
Furthermore, 39 per cent of respondents thought that around half of incorrect benefit claims were a result of dishonesty while 31 per cent believed most were due to dishonesty. Only 17 per cent thought that most incorrect claims were due to mistakes.
Overall, DWP states that “respondents tended to have pessimistic or negative views about the response to fraud and error” with the view that people who falsely claim benefits will likely not be caught was twice as common as the view that they likely will be (59 per cent against 32 per cent).
More than half believed the government wasn’t doing enough to reduce fraud an error, compared to less than a quarter who believed it was either doing too much or the right amount.
Overall acceptability of potential new powers
The report states that respondents were asked at the end of the survey for their overall views on the potential new powers.
This found that:
- 50% of respondents said they felt positive about the new powers, with 12% feeling very positive. 21% of respondents felt negatively about the new powers, with 25% reporting that they felt neutral.
- Claimants were less positive, although in this group there were still more people who felt positive about the powers than who felt negative: 38% of claimants said they felt positive about the new powers and 27% felt negative.
Respondents were more likely to feel positive about the potential powers if they:
- saw fraud and error as a big problem (61% of this group were positive)
- thought that fraud and error was increasing (63%)
- thought that fraud and error was mostly due to dishonesty (68%)
Respondents were also more likely to feel positive about the powers if they:
- believed the UK Government was doing a good job in other policy areas
- were older (broadly speaking, support for the powers increases by age)
- were in a rural area (60%)
- were in a more affluent area (57% of those in the least deprived quintile felt positively about the new powers, compared to 39% in the most deprived)
Overall acceptability of potential new powers
The report states that respondents were asked at the end of the survey for their overall views on the potential new powers.
This found that:
- 50% of respondents said they felt positive about the new powers, with 12% feeling very positive. 21% of respondents felt negatively about the new powers, with 25% reporting that they felt neutral.
- Claimants were less positive, although in this group there were still more people who felt positive about the powers than who felt negative: 38% of claimants said they felt positive about the new powers and 27% felt negative.
Respondents were more likely to feel positive about the potential powers if they:
- saw fraud and error as a big problem (61% of this group were positive)
- thought that fraud and error was increasing (63%)
- thought that fraud and error was mostly due to dishonesty (68%)
Respondents were also more likely to feel positive about the powers if they:
- believed the UK Government was doing a good job in other policy areas
- were older (broadly speaking, support for the powers increases by age)
- were in a rural area (60%)
- were in a more affluent area (57% of those in the least deprived quintile felt positively about the new powers, compared to 39% in the most deprived)
Read more: DWP to offer £300 winter bonus to people who hit four point specific criteria
Proposed new powers to tackle fraud, error and debt in the welfare system
These include:
- Arrest powers for trained DWP investigators
- Search and seizure powers for trained DWP investigators
- Collecting information about where claimants are spending money
- Collecting banking information as soon as fraud is suspected, rather than waiting for a criminal investigation
- Asking banks to share information about accounts which look like someone may be committing fraud
- Government organisations sharing data with DWP about claimants
You can read the full results of the survey on GOV.UK here.
