Together with Big Brother Watch and a coalition of concerned organisations and human rights groups, we oppose the powers in Labour’s Fraud Bill for computers to monitor the bank accounts of all claimants getting certain benefits, to stop people’s benefits and recover money. Being poor is not a crime!
On Monday 3 February, some of us met at Parliament after Big Brother Watch handed in their petition to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It was the second reading of the Bill, opposed by some MPs.
A successful campaign against the plan last year led to this being dropped as unpopular, before the election. It’s back — and more punitive than before!
Vivienne Groom and other family carers experienced the terrible impact of being forced to repay Carer’s Allowance, or be prosecuted for the “fraud” of going over the earnings limit of what you are allowed to earn on top of benefit, which the tax office already knew. Even when Carer’s Allowance is a pittance so people have to do waged work as well, to make ends meet.
Those whose money will be monitored, include pensioners on Pension Credit. This is a qualifying benefit for Winter Fuel Allowance. But PC isn’t claimed by thousands of low-income pensioners as claiming benefits is very intrusive.
Read Big Brother Watch’s briefing here.
Sign the petition here. Nearly 230,000 people already have!
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