This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Consent Flag'.

 
 
 
DWP Central Freedom of Information Team
Annex A 
 
e-mail: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.  
gov.uk
 
Our Ref: VTR4864 
 
 

29 October 2013
Annex A 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dear Mr Snyder ,  
 
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 12 October 2013.   You asked 
for:- 
 
86. Consent Flag 
This field is entered by the provider, advising whether customer has confirmed consent for 
DWP to contact the empl oyer. This has now been superceded by a designation order allowing 
DWP to cont act all employers relating to their employment.  
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wp-pg-chapter-9.pdf 
 
I want you to email full details or a copy of the designation order above. Together with details 
of how anyone doing the Work Programme remove consent for providers to contact the 
employers about their employment?  
 
Can anyone who no longer claims JSA remove consent or otherwise stop the Jobcentre, DWP 
or it's provider payment validation team contacting contacting employers about their 
employment? 
 
Do employers have any obligation to give the DWP or it's providers information about an 
employees employment or can they simply refuse to provide the information without the 
employer being sanctioned in any way? 
 
Response 
 
The Designation Order is available to members of the public. Please follow the hyperlink below 
to view the Designation Order that has been placed in the Parliamentary Libraries: 
 
http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2013-1285/designation_order.pdf 
 
It is necessary for the DWP, in the administration of its employment schemes, to be able to find 
out when a benefit claimant is successful in gaining and remaining in employment. The above 
Designation Order provides express legal authority for an employer to supply data relating to 

an individual's employment activity when evidencing a Wage Incentive payment claim and 
likewise for Work Programme providers wishing to claim a Job Outcome payment and /or a 
Sustained Employment payment. 
 
As the Wage Incentive and Work Programme provider payments can only be made when a 
claimant has been off benefit and in employment for a set period, evidence of employment will 
be required after a person leaves JSA. To do this a person's employment details need to be 
validated after they have moved off JSA, up to the last point at which an appropriate incentive 
payment claim could be made. 
 
The existence of a legal power to share relevant data means there is no need for an 
individual's consent to be obtained in order for the sharing to take place. A former JSA 
claimant cannot stop the Jobcentre, DWP or its Provider Payment Validation Team from 
contacting employers about the individuals employment for the purposes specified in the order.   
 
There is no legal obligation on employers to provide information and they can not be 
sanctioned for failing to do so. 
If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number 
above.   
Yours sincerely,  
 
 
DWP Central FoI Team 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act 
 
If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing freedom-of-information-
xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H 
9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter.  
 
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information 
Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have 
exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information 
Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF www.ico.gov.uk