Signs you're being investigated by DWP for fraud ahead of new powers to 'snoop' on banks

Here are the signs you should be looking out for if you think the Department for Work and Pensions () is looking into your claim.

has confirmed they are clamping down on benefit fraud and are set to introduce a whole raft of new measures to do so. The government says the current level of fraud within the benefits system was costing the taxpayer almost £10 billion a year, and since the pandemic, a total of £35billion of taxpayers’ money has been lost.

The DWP has been able to conduct investigations into claims it believes could be fraudulent. However, Labour says the department's current powers are limited and need to be strengthened. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph last week, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said it was “absurd” that investigators’ powers had not been updated in the last 20 years.

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Under Labour's new plans, the DWP will be given new powers, including the ability to recover debts from individuals who can pay the money back but have "avoided doing so" and the power to order banks and other financial institutions to share information on bank and savings accounts which could indicate fraud or benefit overpayments.

Under the current system, you may not even be told an investigation is underway in the early stages as the DWP assesses whether there is good reason to formally investigate a potential case of fraud. If a formal investigation is launched into your claim, you will be notified about it—this will usually be in writing. Depending on what benefit your claiming you could be contcated by the DWP, HMRC or a local authority.

According to guidance on GOV.UK, you may also be visited by a Fraud Investigation Office or asked to attend an interview about your claim. Alongside this, DWP investigators can gather evidence about your claim, and they may ask you to provide information. Investigators may also check your social media accounts as your posts - such as pictures and location check ins - may not be consistent with your claim.

During the investigation, the DWP may stop your benefits. If this happens to you, then Citizen's Advice says you should contact your benefits adviser as you could be allowed to get a reduced rate of benefit called a "hardship payment" to help you get by. According to, JD Solicitors, these fraud investigations can vary from a few weeks to a couple of years, in some extreme cases. For the majority of people being investigated, the legal firm says you can expect it to last roughly a few months.

Once DWP investigators have collected facts about your case, a decision will be made on whether to take further action. If there’s evidence you have or are committing benefit fraud, then you could be prosecuted and face a fine or even a prison sentence. You will also be told to pay back the benefits you fraudulently claimed, and you could have your benefits reduced or stopped altogether for up to three years if you are convicted.

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