More than 1,100 Department of Work and Pensions staff have received official warnings in the last five years for prying on sensitive benefits records, Government figures show.
Since 2008, 110 DWP workers with access to files on pensions, child support payments, tax credits, Job Seekers Allowance and other benefits have been issued with oral warnings for “inappropriate access or browsing of personal/customer records”.
A further 422 staff were handed written warnings and 585 got a final written warning, a Freedom of Information Act request revealed.