‘Direct Earnings Attachment’, allowing for deductions from earnings.

From April 2013 DWP introduced a pilot for ‘Direct Earnings Attachment’, allowing for deductions from earnings to be paid to Department without need for court action.

Does anyone know if the pilot is just a random selection of cases nationally, or if it is confined to particular areas?

The law allowing them to do this is general- so they can apply it to anyone.

See:

1. SI 2013 No. 384 (Social Security (Overpayments and Recovery) Regulations 2013); and

2. The new sections inserted into the SSAA 1992 which allow this to happen are fully commenced etc.

3. Welfare benefits handbook- pages 1274 and 1276.

Martin.