DWP insists PIP claimants have 'nothing to worry about' over powers to access bank accounts
Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall moved to reassure those concerned about how the new fraud bill.
People claiming PIP and other work benefits "have nothing to worry about" with the upcoming Fraud Bill, the work and pensions secretary has said.
Liz Kendall told MPs on Monday that the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill, which could see some persistent welfare fraudsters being stripped of their driving licence among other punishments, will not affect anyone who is "genuinely entitled" to claim benefits.
The Bill seeks to allow the DWP to recover money directly from fraudsters’ bank accounts and have the power to obtain statements from people they believe have enough cash to pay back welfare debts but are refusing to do so.
On Monday, independent MP Richard Burgon asked Kendall for reassurances after highlighting that disabled claimants fear they are going to be targeted even though those receiving PIP made up just 0.2% of fraud and error cases in the benefits system.
Several MPs also expressed concern, including the chair of the work and pensions select committee Debbie Abrahams, who warned that "this is too important of a bill to mess up and have innocent victims".
'Big Brother Bill'
Burgon, who lost the Labour whip after backing scrapping the two-child benefit cap, urged Kendall to "make clear" that there "cannot be any hostile approach to disabled people claiming PIP or disabled people more widely using the benefits system as they deserve to.”
“I put in a written question asking about the amounts lost in PIP fraud and the answer came back that in 2022/23 only 0.2% was fraudulently claimed by PIP claimants," he added.













