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DWP To Be Given Power To Arrest Universal Credit Claimants

In a recent report by Benefits and Work the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be giving their officers the power to mass-request bank data more efficiently to enable them to conduct more spot-checks to see if people are committing benefit fraud..

The new powers to be given will enable DWP officers to make arrests, execute warrants, conduct searches and seize evidence themselves instead of informing the police and involving them.
This will allow the DWP to dish out civil fines similar to those issued by HMRC even if a case does not make it to court.


It is estimated that approximately two million claimants will face having supposed fraud cases dredged up and to be given fines for fraud even if they’re not convicted of a crime. New and existing claims could be flagged as being potentially suspicious over five years.


It is believed that Conservative ministers will be perceived to be appealing to their voter base because at the time of writing no timetable for these new laws has been made. It’s likely to take at least a year for these plans to commence. Many of these planned new powers will need an Act Of Parliament and is thought that if these plans are to commence they will be introduced from May 2023 at the earliest.

The proposed benefit fraud crackdown will have the potential to save the government £670m a year.

Giving DWP officers the power of arrest for supposed benefit fraud even if a case doesn’t make it to court has the potential to persecute innocent claimants is extremely worrying . For many years now I’ve assisted claimants in supposed benefit fraud meetings, the majority of which showed absolutely no evidence of fraud being committed.

I found these meetings to be yet another way for the DWP to intimidate and harass claimants and I have no doubt that if I hadn’t been able to represent these claimants they would have falsely been accused of fraud and would have faced their benefits being stopped or greatly reduced.

Given the fact that that benefit overpayments were estimated to be approximately £8.3bn in 2020/21 many of which were errors made by the DWP and not claimants, accusing them of fraud as a result of this would be totally wrong and immoral.

Claiming Universal Credit is already difficult and demeaning punishing claimants for being guilty before being found to be innocent. To allow DWP officers these powers would add to the pressure that claimants already feel whilst not knowing if their benefit advisor will report them for potential fraud which could result in their payments being reduced or stopped.

I suspect that the real reasoning behind these new proposed powers is yet another way for the government to save money whilst putting the well-being of the poorest and most vulnerable at risk.

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Many thanks to Benefits and Work for once again being the inspiration for this article.

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21 thoughts on “DWP To Be Given Power To Arrest Universal Credit Claimants”

    1. On Sat, 21 May 2022, 20:54 The poor side of life, wrote:

      > Tigerlily commented: “I was going to say and murder us as well…but they > are already doing that!” >

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  2. We get interrogated and treated like criminals by the’ work coaches’ who do they think they are the bloody stasi !?!

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  4. This Is the usual blame the claimant when the economy of the country Is looking pretty shit, despite the high employment figures, which don’t explain anything of the quality of the jobs and half the working population living In poverty.

    The government Is clearly expecting things to get much worse for the citizens of this country.

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  5. The Department of War on People; spurned on by a fascist government, are simply using domicide as a means to an end. Austerity 1.0 took at least 150 000 lives. The Pandemic another 150 000 or so lives. Austerity 2.0 fuelled by this fascist manoeuvre will take how many more lives? It matters little to The Chumocracy how many, it is what they do best. DWP assassins are paid thirty pieces of silver from a £42m NON RELATED BONUS PAYMENT scheme each and every year when they remove a claimant from the register. There is always money for state sponsored murder but never to assist those in need of assistance.

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  7. Pingback: DWP To Be Given Power To Arrest Universal Credit Claimants | sdbast
  8. Pingback: DWP To Be Given Power To Arrest Universal Credit Claimants | Wirral In It Together

  9. The DWP are a law unto themselves, a rogue department above the law, the Gestapo of the Conservative Party, totally dystopian.

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      1. Bill of rights 1689 = All grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of particular persons before conviction are illegal and void.

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      2. I did not mean that the DWP is are excellent.

        They are often anti the ordinary people, cause a lot of worry and stress and try to prevent people claiming their legitimate benefits, with over bureaucratic forms

        It’s the work of Charlotte Hughes and “The Poor Side Of Life” which is excellent.

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      1. Doing work opposing 38 Bills announced by Prince of Wales in the Lord’s, on behalf of the Conservative Government, on 10 May.
        Particularly the Public Order Bill which will make it difficult to peacefully protest and to strike.
        Also we are opposing huge increase in prisons as the capitalist state tools up to imprison protesters and campaigners.

        Working with State Watch and Corporate Watch.

        Also working collectively to educate people about Climate Change.
        Personally, my health is shot through with Edema, extended stomach, Breathlessness and painful legs.
        People and nurses and doctors are assisting me.

        Like

      1. Doing work opposing 38 Bills announced by Prince of Wales in the Lord’s, on behalf of the Conservative Government, on 10 May.
        Particularly the Public Order Bill which will make it difficult to peacefully protest and to strike.
        Also we are opposing huge increase in prisons as the capitalist state tools up to imprison protesters and campaigners.

        Working with State Watch and Corporate Watch.

        Also working collectively to educate people about Climate Change.
        Personally, my health is shot through with Edema, extended stomach, Breathlessness and painful legs.
        People and nurses and doctors are assisting me.

        Like

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