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The Department for Work and Pensions has announced its start date for new Eligibility Verification and checking bank accounts to stop benefit fraud.

The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill will help save the taxpayer £1.5 billion over the next five years, the DWP and Labour Party hopes. The changes - which have sparked controversy - will be rolled out from April 2026.

Experts reckon the DWP is targeting Universal Credit , Pension Credit, and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) first. A series of factsheets on the DWP details what lies ahead, saying: “The Government will begin implementing the Bill measures from 2026.

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"For the Eligibility Verification Measure, the Government

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