Submitted by Fionnuala Donnelly on Wednesday 11th February 2026
Published on Wednesday 25th March 2026
Current status: Open
Open until: Friday 25th September 2026
Current Signatures: 55
(count is updated approximately hourly)
Relevant Departments
Tagged with
Access ~ Accused ~ bank account ~ Banks ~ Benefits ~ Carry ~ checks ~ concerns ~ Considered ~ Danger ~ Department ~ DWP ~ Gdpr ~ government departments ~ No Evidence ~ Parliament ~ Tax ~ Universal Credit ~ Universal Credit claims ~ Universities ~ vulnerability
Stop DWP powers to receive universal credit claimants bank account information
I want the parliament to reconsider recent powers is has given DWP under universal credit to require banks to carry out certain checks linked to benefit eligibility for vulnerable people. I want them to consider rescinding these powers especially where they appear to be being used inappropriately.
People on universal credit are often vulnerable people. We believe it sets a dangerous precedent for a government department to have unchallenged access to bank account information with no justification. There are serious concerns around GDPR and how DWP will guarantee that people’s personal information will not be mishandled or uploaded to computer systems without consent. If accused of tax evasion your bank information is still considered private. DWP can routinely do this with no evidence of wrongdoing.
If you want to sign this petition (as opposed to merely discuss it), you need to do that on the government's e-Petitions website.
216.73.217.179 Tue, 23 Jun 2026 08:20:42 +0100
