The Department for Work and Pensions has revealed that it might ask people on benefits like Universal Credit to submit passports to ensure legitimacy - in the latest crackdown on benefit fraud across the UK. The government organisation also warned people to be wary of any random requests for ID and other personal details via text or email, saying that officials will also ask for information via a claimant's online account.
In a social media post, the DWP, said: "DWP may ask you to submit ID such as your passport. We will always add a message to your journal to prove it is us.
"Your information can be used by criminals to commit benefit and other fraud. If you believe you have been targeted, contact Action Fraud."
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Birmingham Live reports that in the region of 20million people across the UK claim benefits, from Universal Credit to State Pensions. However, thousands make bogus claims - with 8,691 investigations into alleged benefit fraud conducted as of March this year.
More than two million Universal Credit claimants are being verified in the next five years, as claims made during the Coronavirus pandemic were relaxed with regards to evidence checks - as people were paid as soon as possible after they'd lost their jobs or had their wages slashed.
What are the most common types of benefit fraud?
Common examples of benefit fraud in the UK include:
- Faking an illness or injury to get unemployment or disability benefits
- Failing to report income from a business or employment to make income seem lower than it actually is
- Living with someone who contributes to the household income without declaring that income to the authorities
- Falsifying accounts to make it seem like a person has less money than they say they do
In July 2022, it was reported that the DWP had re-examined 1.1million Universal Credit claims, finding that in the region of 125,000 had some form of 'element of incorrectness'. The department also says that people on benefits who go on holiday, or fail to report changes in circumstances, may be prosecuted for benefit fraud.
You could be taken to court or face hefty penalties up to £5,000 if you provide false information, or fail to report a change. In April, officials at the department busted an alleged £800,000 attack on the benefits system - in which, two suspects are said to have created 15 different identities to rake in more than three-quarters of a million in cash from fake disability claims.
What evidence can DWP ask for?
The most common types of evidence the DWP asks for to verify a benefit claim include:
- Inspector reports from surveillance activities
- Photographs or videos (this can include passports as they have photo ID)
- Audio recordings
- Correspondence
- Financial data, including bank statements
- Interviews with you or people you know
- Any evidence submitted by those who reported you
Investigators may also check social media accounts and search online profiles for pictures, location check-ins, and other evidence.
What else is DWP doing to tackle fraud?
The DWP plans on introducing a raft of new powers, from a new civil penalty for cases of fraud to requiring organisations like banks to share data securely on an increased scale, to check people's savings and whether people are living abroad and not eligible for UK benefits.
There are also plans to increase DWP powers to conduct searches, seize evidence and make arrests.
Back in May, the DWP announced that the Universal Credit overpayment rate had decreased by around £400 million in one year, and that the 'tide is starting to turn on benefit fraud after record high levels during the pandemic'. The latest national statistics confirm that in the past year, fraud and error rates fell to 3.6 per cent (£8.3billion) from 4 per cent (£8.7billion), with Universal Credit losses falling from 14.7 per cent (£5.9 billion) to 12.8 per cent (£5.5 billion).
The figures also detailed reduced rates of fraud, both overall and within the Universal Credit sector. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride, said: "Our welfare system provides a strong financial safety net for vulnerable people, and no one should be able to cynically abuse that for profit.
"We are cracking down on fraudsters, and today’s figures show encouraging progress as DWP works to both prevent new fraudulent claims and collar cases where people have been shamelessly exploiting the system. While we may be beginning to turn the tide on fraud, there is no room for complacency and still much to do.
"Our £900 million Fraud Plan will help us deliver savings of over £9 billion for the taxpayer over the next five years."
Suspected benefit fraud can be reported at this Gov.UK webpage or by calling the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440.
