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The Department for Work and Pensions, or DWP, is looking for 18 signs of fraud as it begins to comb bank accounts and check people's funds.

The DWP powers, which have been handed down to the benefits department from the Labour Party government, will see staff earch for 18 indicators that individuals are breaching the rules for claiming Universal Credit .

Anyone receiving Universal Credit is permitted to hold up to £16,000 in savings across all accounts - if it surpasses that threshold, their entitlement ceases. Currently, the DWP says it depends on people "self-reporting their circumstances accurately and honestly.

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But it wants to step up efforts to "detect and prevent fraud and error

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