The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to announce new bank account rules in a major shake up, reports claim.
The changes could see benefit claimants having their bank accounts checked every month by the DWP to ensure they're not "lying" about savings. This move, which could reportedly save the government £500 million in the first five years, is set to be unveiled by Jeremy Hunt in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement on Wednesday.
But it has been criticised by groups including the Big Issue, as 69% of people referred to the Trussell Trust food banks are disabled, and 62% of these disabled people are not receiving any disability benefits, reports Birmingham Mail.
Meanwhile a source told The Telegraph: "Every pound stolen by fraudsters could be spent on our public services or on those most in need." They added: "Mel [Stride, work and pensions minister] sees it as profoundly wrong that benefit cheats aren't playing by the rules and is determined to bring fairness for the taxpayer."
But a Labour spokesman said: "This is a desperate attempt to distract from the Tories' utter failure to get Britain working and get the benefits bill under control. Labour has always believed in conditionality - rights must always go hand in hand with responsibilities. If the Tories were serious about getting people back to work - rather than peddling falsehoods in an attempt to cover up their dire record - they would adopt Labour's plan to tackle the root causes of economic inactivity and bring the benefits bill down."
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