DWP can take away driving licences from people on | Tech News
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) might take driving licences from some benefit claimants beneath a new crackdown from Labour. A new coverage might see licences taken away from people understood to be related to benefit fraud or given advantages by mistake.
Those who’ve fraudulently obtained funds reminiscent of Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Pension Credit will probably be affected. Under the adjustments accepted by Labour this week, the DWP can apply for driving licences to be suspended by courts if people owe welfare money owed above the worth of £1,000 and have ignored reimbursement calls for.
The DWP beforehand mentioned: “In the most serious cases, where an individual repeatedly and persistently evades repayment and the debt balance is more than £1,000, DWP may consider an application to the court to temporarily disqualify the debtor from holding a driving licence to secure repayment. Like the new powers for deduction orders, this will only apply to those no longer on benefit or in PAYE employment.”
Earlier this 12 months, Work and Pensions Minister Alison McGovern defined that eradicating driving licences supplied an extra “tool in the box” to chase benefit fraudsters. She added that the disqualifying street customers would supply an further “backstop” to chase reimbursement from these decided to “evade collection”.
The DWP added: “When considering the disqualification, the court must first determine that the debtor had the means to repay their debt to DWP but did not – without a reasonable excuse.
“The court must also consider whether the debtor has an essential need to drive, including for work or, for instance, to fulfil caring responsibilities.
“The disqualification will always be suspended, subject to the debtor complying with repayment terms set out by the court. The debtor can avoid the actual disqualification by maintaining those repayments.
“If they fail to do so without good reason, disqualification can occur which will last up to two years and will end early when/if the money owed to DWP is repaid.”
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