Food & Drink0 min ago
Bank account not declared
9 Answers
Hypothetical question.
If a person has a bank account with �30,000 in it, claims a means tested benefit and does not declare this account, obviously it's a fraudulent claim if it comes to light - however, is there any way the benefit authorities themselves could find out about the account without knowing which bank it's with?
This came up in a conversation recently, and I wondered if the benefit people had powers to force someone to tell them which bank,, with penalties if you didn't tell them.
If a person has a bank account with �30,000 in it, claims a means tested benefit and does not declare this account, obviously it's a fraudulent claim if it comes to light - however, is there any way the benefit authorities themselves could find out about the account without knowing which bank it's with?
This came up in a conversation recently, and I wondered if the benefit people had powers to force someone to tell them which bank,, with penalties if you didn't tell them.
Answers
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hypothetical (!) answer;
they don't use thumbscrews, but odds are the account will come to light. all accounts are link to National Insurance numbers, and are cross-referenced with the benefits system. the DWP is constantly informed of accounts that attract over a certain amount of interest, where there is a benefit interest.
just to add to this hypothetical answer, the DWP gets a form with the full account details, and will then contact the bank quoting the given account numbers, obtain full statements for the benefit period, then probably prosecute the criminal involved.
let me know if you need further info, it's my specialist subject :o)
they don't use thumbscrews, but odds are the account will come to light. all accounts are link to National Insurance numbers, and are cross-referenced with the benefits system. the DWP is constantly informed of accounts that attract over a certain amount of interest, where there is a benefit interest.
just to add to this hypothetical answer, the DWP gets a form with the full account details, and will then contact the bank quoting the given account numbers, obtain full statements for the benefit period, then probably prosecute the criminal involved.
let me know if you need further info, it's my specialist subject :o)
no, sly,duck, but I hear all sorts while I'm there! I actually prep fraud cases for court and attend the hearings.
the fraud people don't have to do anything in the situation I mentioned above. all sorts of referrals roll off a computer that result from cross checking National Insurance numbers. for example, it would say the name of the an employer if NI was being paid while someone was on benefit. or state if someone were in prison and still receiving benefits. really, you can sit at your desk and get some tasty referrals without doing anything!
feel free to grass on the person you're talking about. the investigators can start a full search of accounts to find out where the money is hidden. but they can't do this without grounds for asking...
the fraud people don't have to do anything in the situation I mentioned above. all sorts of referrals roll off a computer that result from cross checking National Insurance numbers. for example, it would say the name of the an employer if NI was being paid while someone was on benefit. or state if someone were in prison and still receiving benefits. really, you can sit at your desk and get some tasty referrals without doing anything!
feel free to grass on the person you're talking about. the investigators can start a full search of accounts to find out where the money is hidden. but they can't do this without grounds for asking...
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