On Wednesday, 22 January 2025, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced details of a new Public Authorities (Fraud, Error & Recovery) Bill, which will give the government powers to withdraw funds directly from bank accounts to combat benefit fraud. In addition, powers contained in the Bill will place requirements on banks and building societies to highlight potential breaches of eligibility rules.
The Bill is expected to save DWP £1.5 billion over the next five years and form part of wider plans to save a total of £8.6bn over the same period.
In a statement responding to the announcement, Big Brother Watch, Silkie Carlo, said: "These are totally unprecedented privacy intrusions and punishments that will do more damage to fundamental British values of fairness and justice than to the serious fraudsters."
![Department for Work and Pensions, DWP](https://www.freevacy.com/storage/app/uploads/public/64f/5cc/736/thumb_6134_600_400_0_0_crop.jpg)
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