The UK Government said this is one of the most significant reforms to benefit fraud laws in more than 20 years and will deliver savings to the taxpayer of £600 million by 2028/29
The Department for Work and Pensions is set to receive a significant boost in its fight against benefit fraud, with new powers that echo those of HM Revenue and Customs .
Sunak also highlighted the role of modern technology, such as Artificial Intelligence, in enhancing the welfare system's integrity: "We're using all the developments in modern technology, including Artificial Intelligence to crack down on exploitation in the welfare system that's taking advantage of the hardworking taxpayers who fund it."
The UK Government has described this move as one of the most significant overhauls of benefit fraud legislation in more than two decades, projecting taxpayer savings of £600 million by the fiscal year 2028/29. However, the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill could grant new powers to the DWP, allowing them to access the personal data of benefit claimants. This would require third parties, such as banks or building societies, to conduct mass monitoring without suspicion of fraudulent activity - a topic that has sparked much parliamentary debate since its announcement last year.
"The third-party data gathering measure enables DWP to request data from third parties so we can more proactively detect fraud and error in the welfare system."
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