UC automated email messages, improvements and standard statements and the distinction between voluntary and mandatory activities

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Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Please provide the information you hold on all the Universal Credit (UC) Claimant Commitment (CC) "improvements" made since January 1st 2017 and precisely what
"Further enhancements are planned for 2019 to 2020 incorporating feedback and findings from claimants and our broad range of stakeholders."?

DWP response to SSAC report on the effectiveness of the Claimant Commitment in Universal Credit: government response
Published 9 September 2019
"As part of the continuous development and improvement of the Universal Credit Claimant Commitment a number of improvements suggested by the
committee have already been introduced. Further enhancements are planned for 2019 to 2020 incorporating feedback and findings from claimants
and our broad range of stakeholders.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...

Please also disclose all the text that is included by default (standard statements) in all UC CCs, such as:

[1]"Finally, the commitment says a claimant must check their online account “frequently.” However, we heard from stakeholders that the fact this isn’t clearly defined leaves claimants confused."
9 September 2019
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...

and

[2] "Every claimant’s claimant commitment says “I’ll sign in to my online account often to complete activities in my to-do list and report changes of circumstances promptly.” When accepting their claimant commitment, every claimant agrees to sign in to their online account to complete activities in their to-do list."
31 July 2019
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/5...

As well as information on whether the DWP is testing different text for differing UC claimants on their CC, (at same time) as the examples above [1] and [2] are using different text, such as accessing the online account "often" and frequently"

Under what legislation and precisely which subsections thereof mention the UC online account and require as an entitlement condition of Universal Credit that a claimant is required to "sign in" to their online UC account "often" and frequently".

Do Universal Credit claimants have the ability to opt-in to getting automated emails generated by the UC online accoun t? If yes, how can a UC claimant advise the DWP they want these automated emails to stop (cease and desist notice)? As well as information on whether the sending of these emails comply with your GDPR/Data Protection Act 2018 obligations which require positive opt-in consent from claimants for the DWP to send them automated UC online account email messages.

Under what legislation and precisely which subsections thereof mention the UC online account automated email messages and require as an entitlement condition
of Universal Credit that a claimant is required to accept these email messages without being given any choice to opt-out?

With regards:

"We understand that DWP are aware of this issue and are looking at ways to make the distinction between voluntary and mandatory activities clearer on the commitment."
Published 9 September 2019
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...

Please provide information of when (timescale) the DWP will be amending UC Claimant Commitments so the "distinction between voluntary and mandatory activities clearer on the commitment."?

Yours faithfully,

Frank Zola

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no-reply@dwp.ecase.co.uk on behalf of DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

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Dear Frank Zola,

I am writing in response to your request for information, received 20th
September.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team