Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 22
22
DWP gains new power to directly recover debts from bank accounts without court order.
Conclusion
The Department will also have a new power to recover money owed from an individual’s bank account, without the need for a court order, where the individual is not on benefits or in PAYE employment.40 It told us that this power was about fairness and making sure that it treated people who chose not to pay debts owed to the Department consistently. It said it would make sure that those involved had the financial resilience to allow it to recover the money owed.41 Reporting changes of circumstances
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 7 April 2026. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗