is it possible to act as agent in contact with UC on behalf of disabled relative ?

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: Universal Credit Information.

Magnoliabloom

Hello,  Question for disability advisor . Disabled family member moving to Universal Credit. I have acted as" agent"
 with HMRC ( tax credits) this has been helpful as permission is given for me to phone in on her behalf with questions or change of circumstances. We were reluctant to be " Appointee " which I believe means I take over full  legal responsibility- this is not necessary and removes independence .  With UC is it possible to  act as agent in contact with UC on behalf of disabled relative ?  if so how is this organised please ?
Cannot find any detail on DWP web site of what arrangement to support may be possible except  nominate appointee.     Thank you.

Pippa_Alumni

Hi @Magnoliabloom, thanks for sharing this with us. I'm afraid I don't know the answer to this myself, but I wonder if @Zoe_Scope could advise?

siobhan1

DWP have explicit consent explained above and implied consent.@mikehughescq is correct the department should continue to deal with you once consent is given. A lot of telephony agents or UC agents will try to say otherwise but you have to be persistent.

In my experience a lot of bad habits are spread around contact centres and picked up by people who don't understand or haven't read guidance. I have put in 2 customer service complaints against the same person at Blackpool who still outright refuses to let me use explicit consent when I call for my partner, and they still haven't got the memo ?? 

DWP implied consent policy is that you can call and deal with the department about anyone if you have their permission...  and are prepared to answer security questions you would only be able to answer as their representative.

For example a wife calls to discuss her husband's benefit claim, she knows personal info about the claimant and complex info on the claim such as bank account details, amounts paid etc... very little data would be protected by refusing to deal with her regarding the claim because she already has access to the information and it is implied that she would have her husband's consent to speak on his behalf.

Firefly123

They only way UC with deal with me on my sons behalf was if I was his appointee. Which I now am.