How DWP checks benefit eligibility using the Eligibility Verification Measure

Imported from official source

October 12, 2026 23:01

Finance Classified by Officially

About the Eligibility Verification Measure

The Eligibility Verification Measure (EVM) requires banks and other financial institutions to provide information when requested by DWP to identify incorrect benefit payments.

DWP will share certain information with banks and other financial institutions, known as ‘eligibility indicators’. These indicators are based on benefit eligibility rules and help institutions identify accounts that may need to be checked by DWP. This helps ensure people receive the benefits they are entitled to.

Financial institutions will check the information they hold on accounts receiving certain DWP benefit payments. They will tell DWP when a personal account into which a relevant benefit is paid meets an eligibility indicator. This includes linked accounts. The account may belong to either a claimant or a non-claimant.

Where an eligibility indicator is met, financial institutions will only share limited information with DWP to help identify incorrect benefit payments, and check benefit entitlement.

details of any accounts you hold, including linked accounts and joint accounts

information about how much money is in the relevant accounts

the date of transactions that took place in another country

DWP cannot log into your online banking or see your account in real time.

You must keep your information up to date so that you get the correct amount of benefit. Any delay may mean you receive too much money and may have to make a repayment.

Report a change of circumstances to DWP as soon as possible if your circumstances change.

changes to your money, savings or investments

people moving into or out of the place you live (for example, your partner, a child or lodger)

receiving one-off payments such as gifts, refunds or compensation

leaving England, Scotland and Wales for any period (for example, going on holiday)

If you are not sure whether a change affects your benefit, check the:  

This is an extract. The publication continues at the source.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Licence

Read the original at the source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-dwp-checks-benefit-eligibility-using-the-eligibility-verification-measure

Officially imported this from Department for Work and Pensions’s own source and shows an extract. If you work there, claiming the profile and verifying the domain lets you choose to show the full text here.

Provenance

Organization: Department for Work and Pensions — imported from official source
Official source: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions.atom ATOM
Imported: October 13, 2026 00:01
Versions: 1 recorded
Identity: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-dwp-checks-benefit-eligibility-using-the-eligibility-ve...