The UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is rolling out a new mechanism that lets banks share limited account information with the government to help verify eligibility for certain benefits. The change, referred to as an Eligibility Verification Measure (EVM), applies to claimants of Universal Credit, Pension Credit, and New Style Employment and Support Allowance in England, Scotland and Wales.
Under the updated approach, the DWP sends an Eligibility Verification Notice to participating financial institutions. Rather than relying mainly on self-declaration and sampling, the notice prompts checks based on eligibility indicators. Importantly, sources indicate the DWP does not gain live access to online banking accounts and cannot view transactions in real time.
Outlets also differ in emphasis. Some coverage focuses on what banks are required to provide and how the data is restricted, while other reporting highlights the timing of when the checks begin and the scale of the affected claimant population. The common thread is that the process is designed to match benefit entitlement decisions with information from bank accounts, but within set boundaries on what can be shared.
