UK DWP rolls out new Universal Credit checks on claimants' circumstances and bank balances

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is introducing a system of periodic redeclaration for Universal Credit claimants, starting in April 2026. Claimants will receive prompts to confirm whether their circumstances have changed – such as employment, income, housing, children or health – and must update their online journal accordingly. The government has allocated £110 million for the rollout and projects it could recover up to £250 million in incorrectly paid benefits by 2029‑30.

In parallel, the DWP is implementing eligibility verification notices that require banks to provide details of accounts holding more than £16,000 linked to Universal Credit. The measure targets savings thresholds between £6,000 and £16,000 that affect benefit entitlement, aiming to identify overpayments and potential fraud while preserving privacy – banks will not see spending details and human officials will make final decisions. State pension payments are excluded and independent oversight will monitor the scheme.