DWP Launches Eligibility Verification Measure to Track Benefit Payments

The Department for Work and Pensions published guidance on October 13, 2026, introducing the Eligibility Verification Measure (EVM). This system allows the agency to request limited account information from banks and financial institutions to identify incorrect payments for claimants of Universal Credit, Pension Credit, and New Style Employment and Support Allowance across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Shared data may include account holder names, account numbers, sort codes, balances, and dates of foreign transactions. The agency is prohibited from accessing live online banking, viewing full bank statements, or seeing specific spending details and transaction locations. Financial institutions that disclose unauthorized information face fines.

The agency stated that staff, rather than AI, will make all entitlement decisions. Claimants must report changes in income, savings, or residency to avoid overpayments, fines, or prosecution. To ensure legal compliance, an independent reviewer will monitor the process and report findings to Parliament under the Fraud, Error and Recovery Act 2025.