Universal Credit Review - data protection breach!
Comments
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What’s next, wanting to check in people’s cupboards and under their beds?
Having to show the same id they’ve already verified before? However someone can land on a beach with 0 identity and go and get a job in a hospital or local school, without a DBS check?
Pure madness!
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Hi all. I've got the letter from u.c. through and it says to go online to UC and fill in the form as it's changing from ESA to UC. I have pip and it is awarded to 2027, does that mean they won't ask me about my pip etc? I'm so worried about going the form to fill it in. Can you please let me know what they're going to want etc? I've only just received it. I'm in the u.k.
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PIP is separate from UC/ESA so they won't be concerned with that.
Citizens Advice offer a Help to Claim service:
They can support you before, during and after the application.
There is also a dummy form for the UC application:
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Citizens advice are not accessible where I am. Tried several and all are either not able to get back to you or are closer. Thankyou for your help though! I appreciate the help with it all! So worried about it all!
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Closed not closer
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If you look at the link the CA Help to Claim service operates via phone and webchat, not through local branches.
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Of brilliant! Thankyou so much! X
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I just don’t understand why there is this sudden huge number of reviews.
What is going on?
I’m chronically ill, disabled, immunocompromised and only a few months off state pension age.
I get uc and both parts of pip. All of a sudden I am being asked for bank statements (pdf whatever that means) and photo id (passport and photo of me holding my passport). Have they recently changed their rules?
I am so upset and feel sick to my stomach with anxiety. I feel like a second class citizen because of this.
I have the same right to privacy as any other citizen and don’t see why I should allow these strangers to pry into my bank statements.
Can someone please help or advise me as I’m too old for all this extra distress.
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Hi @lizzydripping, sorry you're going through this. I can understand that it's pretty distressing to have to give over so much personal information, it can be really intrusive. They are doing a lot more reviews lately to make sure everyone is being paid correctly and staying within the savings rules, many of our members have been through them. From what we know, it's seemingly random and it doesn't mean you're suspected of any fraud or anything.
We have some frequently asked questions about reviews here if any of them are useful to you.
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They can only demand bank statements fight suspect fraud. They can ask but you have no obligation to give them such sensitive, personal information which you are protected with GDPR.
They are bullying people and relying on the threat of “losing their money” to make them think they have to hand this over, when that is completely wrong.
You hear people say “if you’ve got nothing to hide” what’s next, are they going to demand people let them search their homes incase they have money stashed under their bed?To anyone reading this……Do not give them your ID after already providing it. They know who you are and it’s already confirmed by everything else including your bank account they are paying you through.
Also do not hand your bank statements over. They are using a law which is for medical evidence and even then you have to give them permission.
They are allowed to “ASK”, they can not sanction you because you don’t provide your bank statements. They are hoping everyone just sends them……which most on here do. Not sending bank statements does not mean you are no longer entitled to your benefit. That has nothing to do with your illness etc.2 -
I'm glad I found this discussion.
My work coach said I was entitled to 28 days holiday so I made the mistake of thinking as long as I wasn't on holiday for more than 28 days it was okay. I was summoned to an enhanced review because I was out of the country for 2 days and have been asked to provide 6 months bank statements as well as given 5 different identity and residence proving tasks (picture in front of house, with passport etc.). I accept and regret my mistake but isn't this too much especially when their systems show I've been in the UK since I returned after 2 says? I also feel their request is an invasion of privacy and I'm wondering which database they'll store my data that I provide to them and whether they'll use it for facial recognition. What are the implications of not providing what they asked for? They say they need all this to verify my presence in the UK but their system already shows my presence and I've used in-store universal credit vouchers which prove my presence. I'm also interested in knowing what system universal credit is using to track the presence of claimants in the UK.
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What are "in store Universal Credit vouchers"?
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I have been asked for 4 months statements and my id which l am not happy about l am thinking of doing this as l am unable to cope with any form of stress l loose weight rapidly and can't function, l won't go on as l am sure there are many in the same position, the people fighting this are to be commended for being so strong and helping others.1
Once we have submitted, if this continues we are going to stop the universal credit all together my husband has a private pension that we wanted to leave (we know the tax implications) he can take in a lump sum that will take us over the limit.
I have checked my statements as well l have a regular payment of 140 going in from my NHS pension which l realise can be seen as earnings so l will be unloading my p60 from nhs as well.
I just would rather go without than have any further stress, sorry if anyone thinks this is wrong.
I
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Hi, who are ICE? Thanks
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