Housing benefit & Bank accounts

Hi
This is my first post so I hope its in the correct place.
Can anyone out htere tell me what powers the local authority/ social security have when it comes to checking my bank details? Can they approach the bank directly for statements or to see if you hold an account with them? I only ask this because I recently received a letter asking for details of a very specific nature and I am curious to know where they get their info from. Any help no matter how small may be of some use, so please respond no matter.
Regards

The DWP and local authorities are entitled to make enquiries about a claimants income and savings if they are receiving means-tested benefits from the DWP or housing or council tax benefit from their local authority. Normally this would involve them asking you for evidence of income and savings.

I believe they could then approach your bank to confirm details but they can't 'access your bank account', unless fraud is suspected.

Hope this is of help, since as moderators we are not qualified to answer means-tested benefit enquiries. Our role is to provide extra information/advice on the guides in the members area which only deal with sickness related benefits such as Incapacity Benefit (IB) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA) which replaced IB from November 2009 for new claimants.

We also can answer queries On Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for those under 65 years old, or Attendance Allowance (AA) for those making a new claim after they reach 65 years of age.

Hi
Thanks for the info, I guess they must have their ways of finding out this info. FYI I am on Incapacity Benefit but this query came from the housing benefit department.
Thanks again.

Not sure if this helps but I was called in to the housing office after handing in my bank statement with my hb form few years ago and was asked what work I had done with E.R. Council as I had received 2 payments from them 1 month apart. I had to explain to them that I had not done any work but the first payment of £50 was for my daughters school clothing grant and the £100 the following month was for my other daughter and sons clothing grant as they were in 5th and 6th year and I have to wait until the schools go back before they pay out for them just in case they decide not to return at the last minute. They were a bit embassased and said thats fine sorry to call you in. ha ha. They should have checked with their own department first. So it could be something simple on the statement they just want clarified.