ID checks
 

I am our twins' Appointee for all matters relating to the DWP. All letters for them come to me, by name, to our address.

They recently had letters saying they have to migrate from ESA to Universal Credit.

I went to the specified online address, and was told they had to set up UC accounts to do the migration.

So that the emails would come directly to me, I gave my email address.

Nope, they still have that email address on file from many years ago when I was still being paid Carers Allowance.

So I decided to make 2 more Gmail accounts so that any emails would come to my inbox.

Nope, Gmail will only allow 2 addresses with the same mobile phone number.

I phone the UC helpline as was told that I should "get another SIM card on contract" so that I could get another Gmail account.

Since I had someone on the phone I raised the subject of items required for their ID checks:

"To prove your identity, you’ll need some documents such as your:

driving licence
passport
debit or credit card
payslip or P60"

They have none of the 4.

"Oh, they are going to have problems then" And he hung up.

Re: ID checks
 

Because they are already claiming the ID checks will not be as tight as they would for normal claim of UC. I assume they have bank accounts? if so print out statements . Perhaps get in touch with Fightback on Facebook you pay a sub and they will do all the work for you if need be

Re: ID checks
 

There are many email providers, not just GMail.

Re: ID checks
 

you can also use the . hack which means they all go to the same email . Original bobbins@gmail.com b.obbins@gmail.com bo.bbins@gmail.com all seen as different emails but all go to bobbins

Re: ID checks
 

Have a chat with your local Citizens Advice - you won’t be the only one affected by this…

Re: ID checks
 

Thats a strange gmail oddity (and just wrong, dots are a valid character in an email address and should not be ignored).
The generally accepted way to do what they do is to use the plus (+) character.

Re: ID checks
 

Oddity or not it has worked for a long long time apparently it works with vmo2 email address too. It also does not get flagged by places like ubereats etc whereas the + can be flagged. It worked for a long time with the 6 month bitdefender trials too

---------- Post added at 20:27 ---------- Previous post was at 20:22 ----------

incidentally it is actual a feature of gmail and has documentation on it

https://support.google.com/mail/answer/7436150?hl=en-GB

Re: ID checks
 

I am aware of that - it doesnt change the fact its wrong, and against the specs of how email should work.
No one else (I know of) breaks email addresses in that way. Typical of google. ;)

Re: ID checks
 

Terrible customer service, I keep hearing that the country is broken and nothing works, well one of the easier ways to turn it around is to take pride in doing your job well, if we all did that it wouldn't take as much to turn things around, that guy should feel ashamed of himself, I would but then I would never have treated a customer that badly in the first place

Re: ID checks
 

I was going to do that, but a chat with a neighbour who is having landlord problems, told me that the first CA telephone appointment available a few days ago was in almost 3 weeks time!

---------- Post added at 16:54 ---------- Previous post was at 16:52 ----------

I just tried it, and it works. Thankyou. It might help get a bit further towards resolving the situation.

Re: ID checks
 

These are who you need to get in touch with. It is not free but they will help you through the whole thing

https://www.facebook.com/FightBack4Justice

Re: ID checks
 

Link
As it's an issue many others will encounter, using an internet search will reveal advice and assistance.

Re: ID checks
 

What ID? The missus is in the same situation. Unable to get a Government Gateway account as she has no ID that they will accept. And that situation has been rumbling-on since July 2024.

Re: ID checks
 

Link available from the previous provided link.
What to bring to your Jobcentre Plus interview

Re: ID checks
 

I'll ask this before anyone else ..

What Photo ID ? Not everyone has a passport or (photo) driving licence.

Re: ID checks
 

General point on various matters.

Re: ID checks
 

You do not need photo id this is 100% . Also because they are already claiming the Work Coach will be able to run checks to confirm id at the interview. This also I can confirm accurate by experience

Re: ID checks
 

This. They would not even accept the missus' French ID card or Passport (expired).

Even the document she was given after we entered the UK after our wedding in France was rejected ("Right To Reside").

Re: ID checks
 

Well, their site crashed, freezed solid, crashed and crashed again.

Perhaps I'll have better luck today.

Re: ID checks
 

I'm shoving all my cash under the mattress, won't be long before the whole internet crashes and burns :D

Re: ID checks
 

Nope. Both yesterday and again today it was a crash, a crash and a total freeze.

:(

Re: ID checks
 

Re: ID checks
 

I have always been in favour of basic ID cards. Name, date of birth and photo.

But every proposed ID card I have read about wants to have a magnetic strip (now a chip) containing access to further information, either on the card, or held in central databases.

And all managed by an NGO that hopes it would all be secure.

In the RAF, I was asked to identify the fake RAF ID card in a pile of 6. I spotted one immediately. But all 6 were fake in one way or another. And that was using mid-80s technology.

As for my present situation, the site is still crashing and freezing. The helpline is no help as usual.

Re: ID checks
 

humour me and perhaps try to access the site behind a vpn. Just a free one see if that helps

Re: ID checks
 

I used Proton, same result. I tried Edge, same result. Ditto edge with Proton.

The fact that VM BB has been looking like this recently can't help. (I first tried before 9am this morning when it seemed OK).

Re: ID checks
 

Still no luck, days and days later.

I'm reminded of that saying about doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

The helpline just tells me to "persevere". Is this how they are going to trim off a load of claimants from the Benefits System?

Re: ID checks
 

Try your MP, make them earn their money. And/ or the press, the DWP love a local news story about their incompetence.

You can wave goodbye to all benefits when Reform take control. Tax cuts for anyone called Nigel will be the No 1 priority.

Re: ID checks
 

It's the way of the World now mate, same with doctors.

oh, speaking of which, they rang me a couple of days ago:
"hello, it appears we haven't seen you in 2 years"
"yep that's correct, you're not usually interested though"
"what do you mean?"
"I mean getting up at stupid o'clock in a morning just to wait in an appointment queue isn't my idea of keeping healthy, and as you said . . it's 2 years since you bothered to check I was still around"
"Right, well how about I give you an appointment day and time now over the phone?"
"SORTED" :D

Re: ID checks
 

The only way it would be "safe" is to store only hashes based on certain data. If needed a hash or set of hashes could be compared but the data could not be reconstructed from the hashes. (A bit like one-way encryption of passwords.)
Still I am generally against ID cards though.

Re: ID checks
 

I have nothing against ID cards similar to the UK driving licence.

I do not support cards with all kinds of other personal information on them.

Re: ID checks
 

After a few more phonecalls to the UC DWP helpline, I was able to get through the whole site without needing any ID proof at all, and it finally allowed a landline contact number which had been causing the system to freeze or fully crash.

It also accepted my Gmail address with inserted full stops as their emails.

I've just received emails to say that they will have 35 minute phonecalls one-after-the-other next Thursday "to prove their identity".

---------- Post added at 15:38 ---------- Previous post was at 15:34 ----------

The system that started to be rolled-out when a passport was renewed a few years ago, contained only the name, age, sex of the holder. But it allowed them access to a much larger cache of information on central servers, including biometric data and chronic health condition information.

The cost of a passport went up to pay for the attached ID card. But when the cards were discontinued, the cost of the passport did not drop.

Re: ID checks
 

nice one

Re: ID checks
 

Our daughter had an email setting an appointment for today at 11:00 for a telephone interview.

This morning at 9, this was changed to next Tuesday by email.

The lad also had an email setting an appointment for today at 11:35 for a telephone interview.

It didn't happen.

I cannot log in to his "journal" as it won't go live until his ID is confirmed, but I could get as far as a page stating "Get ready for your telephone appointment today at 11:35"

I called the hotline, and they just kept telling me to log into his "journal"!!!!

So I tried the website again, and lo and behold "Get ready for your telephone appointment on 1st October at 10:20".

Re: ID checks
 

Well at least you are in the process. What grinds my gears is if you miss it you would get penalised for it them there is no recourse

Re: ID checks
 

Oh, bloody hell. There's an article in the Metro saying mandatory ID cards are coming to the UK. VERY bad idea. A new database will immediately come under attack by crackers, and being new it'll be vulnerable. ID cards were dropped in 2010 for a reason. Starmer, you bloody fool.

And if Echelon is monitoring this (I bet the damn thing's AI now), then up yours!

Re: ID checks
 

Labour out Reform in Labour are making it almost inevitable

Re: ID checks
 

"Not compulsory unless you want to get a job".

Back-peddling already.

Re: ID checks
 

I wonder if they expect those looking for a job possibly unemployed and on low income to pay for it

Re: ID checks
 

I think that's the majority of the unemployed safe then, it seems many don't actually want a job. :D

Re: ID checks
 

So there I was, sat waiting for the phone to ring from UC for "biographical checks" on our daughter.

All the paperwork in front of us as required by the blurb on the online ESA/UC Migration Notice: her NHS card, French ID, Citizen Card, birth certificate, bank card, bank statement, and PIP notice giving her address.

The phone rang, the guy introduced himself, asked for me by name as I am her Appointed Person. He asked for my NI number, DOB and address.

"Right, all that is in order, her first UC payment will be monthly starting 17th October".

"Do you want to speak to her now?"

"Nope, as you are her Appointed Person, and have verified ID dating back to your RAF and Home Office service, you are her guarantor of identity".

"So the same again for her twin brother?"

"Not at all, I shall clear that now, and he'll also get his first payment on 17th October".

All the fussing about and it was that easy!

He noted the problems logged against the process of the claims, and will inform the higher-ups that the system is not tweaked for situations like theirs.

Re: ID checks
 

Told ya didn't I