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Bank information will be assessed by a dedicated team, and staff will receive specialist training. Banks already provide bank statements for the Child Maintenance Service. The DWP is working with the Money and Pensions Service on the right approach to “ability to pay” checks using the bank statements to prevent undue financial hardship. These checks will consider the debtor’s essential living expenses, such as housing, as the Bill provides that DDOs must not cause the debtor hardship in meeting those expenses. In most cases we would not be able to avoid causing hardship without that information, so using bank statements in this way allows the deduction to be affordable and fair, based on the individual circumstances.