GOV.UK Verify Service Data Protection - FOI's

When will it become mandatory for universal credit claimants to register with 'GOV.UK Verify'?

DWP Response

GOV.UK Verify is the new way to prove who you are online. It gives safer, simpler and faster
access to Government services like claiming Universal Credit.  

To be eligible for Universal Credit you must verify your identity. Claimants are asked to do this
as part of the Universal Credit claim process, this must be completed before the claimant can
be paid.  

In Universal Credit full service once the claimant has completed their online claim they are
presented with an action to verify their identity online. They can then choose to verify their
identity using GOV.UK Verify and are instructed that this will save them time, rather than
coming in for an identity verification interview. If a claimant cannot, or does not wish to verify
their identity with GOV.UK Verify they can choose to book an identity verification interview
instead by choosing "I can't verify online".  

There is no date from which use of GOV.UK Verify will become mandatory; there will always
be other ways for people to access services if we’re not able to verify their identity through
GOV.UK Verify. However, we do expect GOV.UK Verify to become the default way to verify
your identity with government for those who can. If you are unable to use GOV.UK Verify
currently a face to face process is required which includes providing a range of primary and
secondary evidence to prove your identity.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/371073/response/905603/attach/html/3/4330.pdf.html

GOV.UK Verify Service Data Protection

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/govuk_verify_service_data_protec#incoming-1157259

heres the tax return side of it

Non Deficere wrote:When will it become mandatory for universal credit claimants to register with 'GOV.UK Verify'?

DWP Response

There is no date from which use of GOV.UK Verify will become mandatory; there will always
be other ways for people to access services if we’re not able to verify their identity through
GOV.UK Verify. However, we do expect GOV.UK Verify to become the default way to verify
your identity with government for those who can. If you are unable to use GOV.UK Verify
currently a face to face process is required which includes providing a range of primary and
secondary evidence to prove your identity.

To me that reads as, if you have the facilities and documentation to complete GOV.uk Verify then that's what you're going to have to do because we won't allow a face to face interview. In other words, its use is mandatory for those who can use it. Or am I misinterpreting it and we will in fact always have the option of a face to face interview?

ABC wrote:

Non Deficere wrote:When will it become mandatory for universal credit claimants to register with 'GOV.UK Verify'?

DWP Response

There is no date from which use of GOV.UK Verify will become mandatory; there will always
be other ways for people to access services if we’re not able to verify their identity through
GOV.UK Verify. However, we do expect GOV.UK Verify to become the default way to verify
your identity with government for those who can. If you are unable to use GOV.UK Verify
currently a face to face process is required which includes providing a range of primary and
secondary evidence to prove your identity.

To me that reads as, if you have the facilities and documentation to complete GOV.uk Verify then that's what you're going to have to do because we won't allow a face to face interview. In other words, its use is mandatory for those who can use it. Or am I misinterpreting it and we will in fact always have the option of a face to face interview?

ABC,

It is not mandatory, but it is expected...

"However, we do expect GOV.UK Verify to become the default way to verify your identity with government for those who can."

This does save time for the claimant and of course time and money for DWP.

Most people are struggling to use Verify to make a UC claim.

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252434188/Thousands-of-Universal-Credit-claimants-unable-to-use-Govuk-Verify-to-apply-for-benefits

the reference is here via something else

the Government Gateway

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/152167/response/377572/attach/html/3/293%20IR%20response%20v1%200.pdf.html

this is what i expect with gov uk verify

However, Advisers can issue a Jobseeker’s Direction requiring some Jobseeker’ Allowance claimants to create a profile and public CV within Universal Jobmatch.
As claimants must have a Government Gateway ID and password to log in to Universal Jobmatch we can reasonably expect the claimant to create a Government Gateway account as part of this direction and failure to do so without good reason would result in a benefit sanction being applied.

no system has argued the point of the need for 2 created accounts to be created when one created account is ample enough