(Secretary of State for
Work and Pensions):Universal Credit Full Service for all
types of claimants continues to roll out to plan. It is now being
delivered in 50 jobcentres and is the Department’s first fully
digital service.
We have been exploring how this technology can, for the first
time, offer a simple system of explicit consent (to protect the
large amounts of claimant personal information held under
Universal Credit) but which is easy to use and takes advantage of
the opportunities a digital service can offer. Such a system can
be used by third parties and stakeholders representing claimants’
interests, enhancing the service that they can provide for the
most vulnerable.
However, it is clear MPs engaging on their constituents’ behalf
need constant access to such a system through which they can help
their constituents. Today, I have agreed that the implicit
consent approach which operates well for all other DWP benefits
can be extended to MPs representing the interests of their
constituents who are engaging with or directly claiming Universal
Credit. We can offer this because of our pre-existing
relationships between MPs offices, District Managers and their
teams. This is something which cannot pertain for enquiries from
other sources.
This means any correspondence – letter, email, or telephone
enquiries – from MPs on behalf of a constituent relating to
Universal Credit will be answered directly, without a requirement
to seek explicit consent from their constituent. This will ensure
consistency and clarity for MP offices, no matter what benefit
the enquiry is about.
Extending this support for MPs and their constituents will
continue to help enable the successful delivery of this key
welfare reform programme.
