Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on what date the first Eligibility Verification Notice was issued; which financial institution received it; and which benefits were covered by that notice.

The Eligibility Verification Measure can be used in relation to the following relevant benefits: Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Employment and Support Allowance.

The Department can confirm that the first Eligibility Verification Notice has been issued as it has commenced test and learn, as set out to Parliament. However, as this is the test and learn period, disclosing the operational details could enable individuals seeking to defraud the social security system to adapt their behaviour and take steps to circumvent the measure, reducing the effectiveness of the measure. Revealing this information during test and learn might also unfairly prejudice the commercial interests of the small number of financial institutions initially involved.

As the measure is rolled out further, we expect to achieve near full coverage of the relevant benefit caseload.