BRITS on benefits will have their bank accounts checked every month as part of a major government crackdown on fraud.
The major change in the law is set to be confirmed at the Autumn Statement on November 22.
It’s part of a huge attempt to reduce the number of Brits on out-of-work benefits, which currently sits at 5.4 million.
A government source said: “Every pound stolen by fraudsters could be spent on our public services or on those most in need.
“DWP Secretary Mel Stride sees it as profoundly wrong that benefit cheats aren’t playing by the rules and is determined to bring fairness for the taxpayer.”
Currently, the Department for Work and Pensions has to lodge individual requests to access bank accounts if they’re suspicious of fraud.
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Under new laws banks will be mandated to run monthly checks to signs of suspicious activity.
In a recent public consultation on the plans more than half (52%) of 2,127 respondents found the idea of frequent bank account checks to be acceptable.
Meanwhile, 62% saw fraud and error in the welfare system as a big problem, while 18% saw it as a very big problem and only 3% saw it as no issue at all.
Alongside announcing a crackdown on benefits fraud on November 22 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will announce any changes to taxes and spending on public services, such as the NHS and schools.
Mr Hunt has warned Brits not to expect major slashes to rates because inflation hasn’t come down far enough.
But in the final weeks leading up to the statement the Chancellor is facing increasingly loud calls from Tory MPs to change tact.
They worry without major tax cuts the party will suffer huge blows at next year’s general election.
