Benefit fraudsters who refuse or fail to pay back their debts could end up losing their driving licences as the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error & Recovery) Bill will allow DWP to force repayments.

The draft legislation means that benefit cheats could lose their licences for up to two years. This is estimated to save the DWP up to £1.5bn over five years.

The government plans to recover up to £8.6bn over five years in what is being described as the ‘biggest welfare fraud and error budget package in recent history’, said the DWP.

For the DWP to be able to apply to the court, the benefit cheat must owe over £1,000 and there must have already been ‘frequent requests’ requesting repayments.

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