Benefit cheats could be BANNED from driving if they don’t pay back money owed as minister vows to ‘turn off the tap’

Individuals who commit benefit fraud may face losing their driving privileges if they fail to reimburse the government, according to a new initiative by the authorities to tackle welfare fraud.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will have the authority to retrieve funds directly from the bank accounts of fraudsters, marking a significant effort to combat fraudulent activities.

UK provisional and full driving licenses.
Benefit cheats could be banned from drivingCredit: Getty
Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, leaving Downing Street after a Cabinet meeting.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz KendallCredit: Rex

The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill, which would put the measures into law, is due to be introduced in Parliament on Wednesday.

It will help save the taxpayer £1.5 billion over the next five years, the DWP estimates.

Once the Bill is made law, benefit cheats could be disqualified from driving for up to two years if they refuse to repay money they owe.

In cases where individuals owe over £1,000 in welfare debt and continuously neglect payment demands, courts could decide to temporarily suspend their driving licenses at the request of the DWP.

The department will also have powers to get bank statements from people they believe have enough cash to pay back welfare debts, but are refusing to do so.

The DWP however insists it will not have direct access to people’s bank accounts.

“We are turning off the tap to criminals who cheat the system and steal law-abiding taxpayers’ money,” Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said.

She added: “This means greater consequences for fraudsters who cheat and evade the system, including as a last resort in the most serious cases removing their driving licence. Backed up by new and important safeguards including reporting mechanisms and independent oversight to ensure the powers are used proportionately and safely.

“People need to have confidence the Government is opening all available doors to tackle fraud and eliminate waste, as we continue the most ambitious programme for government in a generation – with a laser-like focus on outcomes which will make the biggest difference to their lives as part of our Plan for Change.”

In an attempt to provide assurance about the Bill, ministers will bring forward codes of practice for those who will use the new powers.

They also plan to introduce new oversight and reporting mechanisms to monitor how the powers are used.

Elsewhere in the Bill, the Public Sector Fraud Authority will be given more powers to tackle Covid-era fraud.

Helen Whately, the shadow work and pensions secretary, welcomed the measures, and claimed they were a “continuation” of the Conservatives’ work in power.

She added: “But having knowingly appointed a convicted fraudster to his cabinet, Keir Starmer cannot be trusted to get tough on fraud.

“Labour must do more to tackle the spiralling welfare budget, and explain why they are yet to match our £12 billion in savings – raising the prospect that Rachel Reeves will be back again later this year with another tax raid on working people.”

You May Also Like

Attention: Authorities Looking for Information on Woman Missing in North Carolina

Police in North Carolina are currently looking for a missing 30-year-old woman…

Emma and Matt Willis show affection as they leave glamorous BAFTA TV Craft Awards event – her first appearance after undergoing keyhole heart surgery

Emma and Matt Willis put on a loved-up display as they led…

Donald Trump arrives in Italy for Pope Francis’ funeral with a solemn expression alongside Melania after disembarking Air Force One.

US president Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in Rome as…

Father Accused of Raping Murdered 13-Year-Old Girl Discovered With Nearly Beheaded Body and Hands Cut Off

On Wednesday, an Ohio grand jury indicted a man for raping and…

Check out the amazing new £3 billion airport renovation in a small country that might be perfect for your long-haul vacations

THIS is the brand-new £3 billion airport upgrade in a tiny Middle…

Sad News: Karen Silva, a contestant from The Voice Kids, passed away at the age of 17 after suffering a stroke.

Karen Silva, a former contestant on The Voice Kids, has sadly passed…

Stars Arrive in Inverness for Filming of New Series – Charlotte Church and Paloma Faith Make a Stylish Entrance in Pajamas and Eccentric Outfits

The Celebrity Traitors cast touched down at Inverness Airport on Friday, as…

Warning: Tourist fell victim to a holiday scam involving the ‘bird poo’ trick, resulting in purse theft

BRITISH tourists are sounding the alarm over a classic con that is…

Trump starts deporting immigrants to RWANDA in a move seen as embarrassing by the UK, less than a year after the Labour party ended a similar program.

DONALD Trump has begun removing migrants to Rwanda — less than a…

Karen glares during trial while harsh messages to police officer partner are presented to jury, where he pleaded with her to ‘cease calling’.

Karen Read, the suspect in a murder case, appeared emotionless during a…

Meghan Markle’s podcast, “Confessions of a Female Founder,” fails to make an impact on charts and loses to a sleep-related show

The Duchess of Sussex has suffered another blow this week after her…

Authorities Report Lack of Proof for Alleged ‘New England Serial Killer’ Amid Online Speculation

Police in a small coastal town in Connecticut have confirmed the identity…