You cannot claim Universal Credit without ID?

The request was successful.

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

[1] When does the DWP intend to add notes to the online Universal Credit claim form, that
gives guidance to claimants who do not have ID documents and want their claim for
UC "started right away"?*

[2] When does the DWP intend to add notes to the online Universal Credit claim form, that
gives guidance to claimants that they can be asked a set of biographical security questions, at a Jobcentre evidence interview so their claim for UC "started right away", when they do not have ID documents? In line with your 'Identity verification and standards of evidence' methods and processes: http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPaper...

Not providing this guidance to claimants during the process of a new UC claim, could mean
a claim is abandoned or delayed and cause them financial hardship.

Currently claimants who can't or decline to use Verify, as presented with the following
message, when making a UC claim online:

"[can't / do not want to use gov.uk verify]

You'll need to
at a jobcentre"

Get your identity documents ready

You need to attend an evidence interview. You'll need to book your interview once you've completed this to-do.

Can you bring 1 of these documents to your interview?
It must be the original document. Any photos must look like you.

UK passport
EEA passport
UK photo driving licence
national identity card
residence permit or card
immigration status document
registration or naturalisation certificate
bank card for the account where you want your Universal Credit to be paid

If you use a bank card, it must show your name, the account number and sort code.

Additional identity documents
Can you bring 2 of these documents to your interview?
They must be the original documents.

birth certificate
Council Tax statement
NHS medical card
recent bank or building society statement (if you've provided a bank card, then this must be for a different account)
debit or charge card (if you've not already said you'll provide this)
passport (if you've not already said you'll provide this)
full or provisional UK driving licence (if you've not already said you'll provide this)
local authority rent card
marriage or civil partnership certificate
tenancy agreement
non-UK driving licence
Young Scot card
CitizenCard"

Book your interview

To complete your claim, you'll need to book and attend an interview.

Call to book
0800 328 5644 (Textphone: 0800 328 1344)
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

You'll be asked for your National Insurance number when you call."
http://welfarecentral.org/index.php/foru...

*Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, recently said:

"There is no requirement for a UC claimant to have ID, but if you do purchase one we can actually reimburse you.

Where people don’t have ID our terrific work coaches use many methods to identify someone and get their claim started right away."
https://twitter.com/AmberRuddHR/status/1...

[3] Please provide your guidance to Work Coaches on reimbursing claimants to obtain ID and the guidance and methods used by Coaches to identify "someone", so a Universal Credit claim can be "started right away"?

[4] Please provide your internal guidance for Coaches on how they can identify "someone", so a Universal Credit claim can be "started right away"?

[5] Does the DWP ever intend to require all new UC claimants to use Verify or other services to prove ID online before a UC claim can be started?

[6] For your planned migration from legacy benefits to Universal Credit, can claimants use their Local Authority (Housing Benefit and Council Tax), HMRC and DWP letters and other evidence of receipt of these 'legacy' benefits as proof of ID? If they can, why are they not listed as evidence of ID above (on the UC online application form). When will they be listed as ID to bring to a Jobcentre UC evidence interview, so a Universal Credit claim can be "started right away"?

Yours faithfully,

Frank Zola

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

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

3 Attachments

Dear Frank Zola,

I am writing in response to your request for information, received 7th
December.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team