Access to bank account

[Kin Kenny]

Friend became redundant and applied for unemployment benefit for himself.Lives with girl friend who has her own business,girl friend finds out that the benefit people are able to access her bank details with out her knowledge,is this legal Kin Kenny

[redcrx]

are they claiming for more than just jobseekers?

[padanarm]

Don't understand what you mean by "the benefit people are able to access her bank details with out her knowledge".

Presumably your friend reported that he lived with his girlfriend. DWP are entitled to make enquiries about the couple's income and savings. Normally this would involve them asking the girlfriend for evidence of her income and savings.

I believe they could then approach her bank to confirm details but they can't 'access her bank account'.

Has she signed any forms?

[themas]

For benefit purposes they are a couple and details of bank a/cs etc. for both of them would be needed for any means tested benefits. If he has only claimed contribution based JSA (which is not means tested) then it may be different, but I think they usually collect information on the partner when the claim is made as it may be needed when CBJSA runs out, because the alternative is means tested.

I don't see how they could access her account without her knowing about it unless her partner gave them her account details and didn't tell her.

[tyke1]

NO WAY!
Common Sense answer - how many banks etc are there (on and off shore) and how many different types of accounts are there in all those organisations. How would you trace someone's account without a major trawl through millions of accounts - even if you knew there was an account - and then the bank would not supply the info (data protection act etc) without the permission of the account holder UNLESS there was good reason to believe there was a MAJOR criminal/terrrorist offence and that would require a court order.
She would have to cooperate by authorising access which (again) would only happen if the DWP had reason to suspect fraud.
Otherwise as a couple their entitlement to benefit (other than JSW to which he is entilted as a result of the NI conts he has paid) would require info on the couple's income. eg if unemployed partner wanted to claim for their children or mortgage the DWP are entilted to enquire (from them) about the income/savings of the family unit which would entail requesting details of their savings and her income.
It is called 'Protecting the Public Purse' - for 'Public' read 'Taxpayer'.
Just hope her accounts are up to date........

[sara3]

legal answer? yes. the DWP has fraud investigators who, with the correct authorisation, can check for all bank/building society accounts held by a benefit customer, their dependants, or suspected partners.

but they would have to have good reason. plenty of benefit people attend for interviews under caution to find piles of bank statements, credit card bills and other documents already there....