UC claimants face weekly account check

Many people are living a life of luxury without working, using the UK's benefits system. In contrast, those who do not receive benefits are working full-time and living a poor life. Benefits claimants will have their bank accounts checked weekly to make sure they are not lying about their savings under plans for a new post-Covid fraud crackdown. The law change is set to be unveiled in the Autumn Statement, with government estimates indicating it could save the taxpayer £500 million in the first five years. The drive marks the Government’s latest attempt to bring down the number of people on out-of-work benefits, which has ballooned to 5.4 million since the pandemic. Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, has made “rooting out fraud” in the benefits system one of his priorities since he took up the role last autumn. A government source said: “Every pound stolen by fraudsters could be spent on our public services or on those most in need.