It is possible to enable a Universal Credit account so claimants may upload attachments?

The request was partially successful.

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

I'd like to know if there is information about whether it is, or has been possible to enable Universal Credit Accounts, so that claimants may upload attachments to their accounts? Is it possible to request that facility to be enabled? I have heard this facility did exist at the start of the Universal Credit system, but it was disabled, due to the amount of spam being received by the DWP. I'd be grateful for information about the reasons for enabling, and then disabling this facility please.

Yours faithfully,

Mark Abraham

DWP freedom-of-information-requests, Department for Work and Pensions

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no-reply@dwp.ecase.co.uk on behalf of DWP Central FOI Team, Department for Work and Pensions

Our ref: FOI2020/19095

Contact email: [1][email address]

Dear Mark Abraham,

Thank you for your request for information which was received on 19th
April. Your request is being considered under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.

You can normally expect a response to your FoI request within 20 working
days. However due to the current situation with COVID-19 it may not be
possible for us to reply to you within this timeframe.

The DWP will make every effort to respond to FOIs as we would usually but
the current situation may mean that available Departmental resources are
needed on other high priority areas.

We kindly ask for your understanding during this unprecede nted situation
and we will aim to deal with your FOI request as soon as is practically
possible.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact the department
using the email address and reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team

Department for Work and Pensions

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Dear [email address] on behalf of DWP Central FOI Team,

Hi I understand that you have re-prioritised staff, and a reply is delayed, but I'd remind you that I need this answer, and again, it's time dependent, and needed by 3rd June 2020, to avoid a detrimental knock-on effect to my Universal Credit claim, due to a time limit set by the DWP.

If you are unable to reply by the 3rd June to do conflicting priorities, can you confirm any unavoidable delay through current circumstances in the UK should be taken into account by other DWP departments?

Yours sincerely,

Mark Abraham

DWP freedom-of-information-requests, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
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Every effort is being made to respond to FOIs as we would usually but the
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We kindly ask for your understanding during this unprecedented situation
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DWP Policy Group Freedom of Information,

1 Attachment

Dear Mark Abraham,

I am writing in response to your request for information, received 19th
April.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Thank you for your reply. I'm interested in your reply about security risks, and the categories allowed. As you said, it's been a learning experience, and I'd be interested to learn what information the department has learned. I'd be very interested to see information about the unacceptability to be able to upload bank statements in particular.

It seems counter-intuitive and unnecessary of the DWP to make easily suppliable electronic bank statements of a claimant, unacceptable if sent electronically or to be uploaded, in order to verify information sought by the DWP. Instead the claimant has to print these, and bring them physically down to the Job Centre, with a specific appointment to do this task. Where time pressure is a factor, this then delays the progress of the claim also. I know this in my own experience. I have three times had to present the same statements - once when only part of the documents were copied and uploaded. A second time when the documents were lost, and a third time when they were finally copied and uploaded by a colleague of yours in the DWP. In each case, I raised the need for urgency, and asked to send the documents electronically. I was told that wasn't possible.

I am generally aware of IT security risks generally with uploading of documents, but fail to understand how a type of claim can affect the inherent risk factor. By what you say, the department allows uploading on these categories. Presumably it's possible to extend those categories, and if so what procedures are there to actively review and extend those categories? I understand that requests have been granted in the past to allow individual claimants the ability to upload documents also, presumably the claimants have shown reason why that request is important, and the DWP has agreed?

I am seeking available under FOI rules, and you'll reply and help if you can and are allowed, and it doesn't cost too much, and if it's published. I get that, and thank you for your efforts. I don't know if you feel your work is rewarding, but I do, even if I may be seen as an irritant at times. What you do is important, and possibly you won't get recognised for that. But I do and am very grateful to you.

Which leads me to my final question and it's one concerning the workings of FOI staff. In looking into these matters, is it a matter of enquiries strictly down a searchable source of information, or does the FOI team talk to people in the respective areas, to seek their knowledge as to where to look? Presumably it is a combination of the two?

Yours faithfully,

Mark Abraham

DWP freedom-of-information-requests, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
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Every effort is being made to respond to FOIs as we would usually but the
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We kindly ask for your understanding during this unprecedented situation
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Email FOI responses will be issued from [1][email address]
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DWP Policy Group Freedom of Information,

1 Attachment

Dear Mark Abraham,

I am writing in response to your request for information, received 28th
July.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

This is a note of appreciation for your two very informative replies to my enquiry.

It's brief because I know you are busy, but I recognise time and care has been taken in giving these replies, and what you've said is very informative. Thank you!

Yours faithfully,

Mark Abraham

DWP freedom-of-information-requests, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been accepted by the DWP FOI mailbox.
 
If your email is a Freedom of Information request you can normally expect
a response within 20 working days.
 
However please be advised that due to the current situation with COVID-19
we cannot guarantee a response within this timescale.
 
Every effort is being made to respond to FOIs as we would usually but the
current situation means that available Departmental resources will be
needed on other high priority areas.
 
We kindly ask for your understanding during this unprecedented situation
and we will aim to deal with your FOI request as soon as is practically
possible.
 
Email FOI responses will be issued from [1][email address]
We recommend that you add this address to your email contacts otherwise
the response may be treated as Spam or Junk mail.  
 
Should you have any further queries in connection with this request do
please contact us.
 
[2]http://www.gov.uk/dwp
 
 

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