Universal Credit: Homelessness

Department for Work and Pensions written question – answered at on 20 October 2017.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Steve McCabe Steve McCabe Labour, Birmingham, Selly Oak

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional support is being offered to people applying for universal credit who (a) have lost identification documents during a period of homelessness and (b) are unable to provide a permanent address.

Photo of Damian Hinds Damian Hinds The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions

Where the claimant does not have sufficient documentary evidence to verify their identity, DWP follows a process known as a biographical security check, whereby the claimant is asked a series of security questions to validate their identity. Should the claimant fail the biographical security check, as an additional safeguard we can approach a third party to validate the claimant’s identity (subject to the claimant giving their consent). A claim to Universal Credit can still be made if a claimant does not have a permanent address.

Does this answer the above question?

Yes0 people think so

No0 people think not

Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.