Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of enabling people to verify their (a) income and (b) identity online through secure access to their benefit data.

All claimants must answer security questions to confirm they are who they say they are, to protect their information and prevent fraud. When a claimant creates a UC account, they must complete security questions. When a claimant signs into their account, they will need to complete their security questions, answering exactly as they initially entered them.

If the claimant phones us, we will ask them their security questions.

The UC application process is different for each claimant, including those from remote and island communities. When applying for UC, a claimant must confirm their identity by using the on-line service, as part of the claim process. Where a claimant has not attempted online verification, or has attempted and failed, then they will be asked to attend a face-to-face interview (F2F). This is to ensure the claimant is who they say they are, and to prevent fraud.

If a claimant is having a problem verifying their identity online and has not been able to do this, the Jobcentre will call and book an appointment to verify the claimant’s identity. Appointments may be by phone, or face-to-face in our Jobcentres.

Further information about verifying identify can be found on Understanding Universal Credit - How to claim.