DWP code of practice on obtaining information to deal with fraud: revised code

The Social Security Fraud Act 2001 allows the Department for Work and Pensions and local authorities to get information from certain organisations about their customers, to help deal with fraud against the benefit system. The department has to issue a code of practice and consult on any revised version.

Comments from anyone are welcome but this consultation is primarily aimed at those required to provide information under the Social Security Administration Act 1992 – for example:

• banks
• insurers
• credit reference agencies
• gas and electricity suppliers
• water companies
• educational establishments
• the student loans company

We published the current version of the code of practice in April 2002.