DWP handed new powers to check on people 'who aren't claiming benefits'

HAYSIE

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/dwp-handed-new-powers-to-check-on-people-who-aren-t-claiming-benefits/ar-AA1y3vNb?ocid=msedgntp&pc=NMTS&cvid=570f421ffd234840bc138a25892bd7e6&ei=36#fullscreen

Doubleme

you know all this seems well and good until you think it through and realize a number of things wrong with it, I am actually serious this one really does concern me.

Firstly a pretty major point I have seen how they have got my earnings wrong personally and I am still chasing this up to try and get it fixed after 9 months no luck yet!

Its one thing if you assume that this will only be used to go after actual fraudsters who are delibrately avoiding paying back. I think nearly everyone here would agree that they are fine with this.

However when they use these powers to go after people who they have the figures wrong on? I have been doing googling round this and by the way my story is not as exceptional as people would think HMRC have numerous cases where they have gotten these figures wrong and taken years to fix and put right and people have had their lifes upended because of this. So they make a mistake and they search your property and empty your bank accounts leaving you unable to pay bills.

This sort of power can only work if they have absolute accuracy and and no ill intent. Otherwise it will be a violation of liberty and ruin lives.

I do not trust either the Tories or the Labour party with good intent this could easily be used against political opponents or awkward persons and I would expect both of them to do so.

However even if I am wrong on that point, It is already the case that people have far too much power in these departments anyway. When your assessed for benifits or your assessed by HMRC or for emergency housing iys normally a single individual or small handful of individuals who decide, appeals and etc can take years.

When people can have all their possessions taken and turfer out onto the streets to be homeless for many years or indefinitely you better make sure your whiter then white with the rules and accurate to a tee and neither of these will apply there will always be agents who abuse this power.