UK to roll out benefit fraud reforms from April 2026

The UK government will begin implementing a suite of new measures aimed at reducing benefit fraud from April 2026, the Department for Work and Pensions announced, introducing checks that will allow third parties to flag questionable claims and permit recovery of funds from the accounts of people found to have committed fraud. The changes come as ministers seek to cut public losses from fraud and error and cover benefit types including Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Employment and Support Allowance.

Under the Public Authorities Fraud, Error and Recovery Bill, the DWP estimates its measures will save about 1.5 billion pounds over five years and form part of wider reforms expected to save 9.6 billion by 2030. New powers include an Eligibility Verification Measure enabling organisations such as banks and airlines to provide limited data to the DWP to help identify potential ineligible claimants, the ability to recover funds directly from fraudsters bank accounts in proven cases, and stronger enforcement powers such as search warrants for investigators and driving bans of up to two years for people who repeatedly fail to repay overpayments.

The department says the measures will...