Universal Credit and your Personal Data

[pompeyfaith]

If you claim Universal Credit (“UC”) the DWP intends to share your most sensitive personal data with local authorities, citizens advice bureaux, credit unions, social landlords and relevant registered charities:

• Full name (including initials)
• Contact details including: address, email, telephone.
• Details of others in household, in relation to the relevant Benefit Unit.
• Type of accommodation – private / social rented, owned, none etc.
• Gender
• Ethnicity *.
• National Insurance Number.
• Date of birth / age range.
• Employment status / earning.
• Debts / arrears/rent payable.
• Benefits received including: level of payment, copy of documents (e.g. claimant commitment).
• Health conditions / disabilities *
• Caring responsibilities.
• Qualifications / training status.
• Transport situation e.g. able to drive /access to car or easy access or public transport.
• Barriers to work.
• Languages spoken.
• Access to financial products such as bank / building / credit union / Post Office card account / credit card.
• Level of personal budgeting.
• Access to computer and internet.
• Level of digital skills.

On the 10^th December 2014 the DWP quietly published a consultation document (see link below). This does seem to be a strange time to launch a consultation exercise given the proximity of the Christmas and New Year holidays. People would be forgiven for wondering if the DWP was attempting to sneak this out without anyone finding out until it was too late.

More:

http://dpac.uk.net/2015/02/will-clai...heir-uc-claim/

[julian]

Re: Universal Credit and your Personal Data

They should only be able to share your data if they have your authority. This is why it is so important to object to privatisation as many of these people will have no internal security or Data Protection guidelines as they will employ many staff and many on short term contracts. They may as well use Facebook to manage it, if personal data is shared.

With regard to the 10th December, that is not a ruse to avoid detection, it is just planning to get the desk clear for Christmas. I have worked on many accounts where the detail for bids has come in at 4pm on Christmas Eve or Good Friday for response by the next week.

[pompeyfaith]

Re: Universal Credit and your Personal Data

There has been too many breaches of personal data and with PaymyPCN.net being the latest

http://news.sky.com/story/1432853/10...et-data-breach

[pompeyfaith]

Re: Universal Credit and your Personal Data

Housing staff worried about losing tenant data

Nearly a quarter of social housing staff are worried about taking mobile devices out of the office for fear of losing tenants’ data, a survey has found.

Research by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), seen exclusively by Inside Housing, also found that more than half of staff questioned - 51% - want more data protection training. This rises to 86% for those who have not had any training in the last 12 months.
The unpublished findings are the result of a survey of 279 organisations, including 164 housing associations and 85 local authorities from across the UK, carried out in December.
The research, part of a wider project on data protection by the CIH in collaboration with Housemark and solicitors Anthony Collins, found 24.7% of staff are worred about data security when taking portable devices out of the office. A number of landlords are now looking at using devices to allow staff to collect rent more easily in preparation for universal credit, under which benefit for housing costs is paid to tenants.
‘We think it’s a really important issue for the sector,’ said Debbie Larner, head of practice at the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH). ‘It’s scary stuff. Plus the reputational damage for social landlords is huge with data breaches and may affect relationships with funders, contractors, partners et cetera.’
At the moment the penalty for a serious data breach is up to £500,000. A serious breach would include sensitive personal information being released - for example bank details, health information or criminal record information.
The findings come to light a year after watchdog the Information Commissioner’s Office found social landlords need to improve their policies in order to better comply with the Data Protection Act. The ICO found that not all landlords use encryption methods to protect personal data or have schedules in place for the disposal of data.
‘FROM A DATA SECURITY POINT OF VIEW – IT WORRIES ME TO HAVE TO TAKE MY LAPTOP OR MOBILE DEVICE OUT OF THE OFFICE’

Strongly agree 8%
Agree 16.7%
Neither agree or disagree 35.9%
Disagree 29.5%
Strongly disagree 10%
Source: CIH

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/techn...008417.article