As of this week, driving bans could be imposed on people who refuse to pay benefit debts of £1,000 or more, under powers introduced by the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025
The Department of Work and Pensions will also be able to go directly to a person’s bank to take cash owed, without needing a court order.
Ministers have dispatched letters to thousands of people with outstanding debts, warning them of the new enforcement powers.
Cabinet Office minister Satvir Kaur said: ‘Fraud against the public sector and unrecovered debt deny our vital frontline services of the funding they deserve.’
