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No email correspondence with DWP unless can make case for ’reasonable adjustment’
Written answer from Justin Tomlinson to question from Frank Field -
‘Claimants who have a valid reasonable adjustment in place are permitted to receive correspondence from the Department by email should they request it. Claimants who do not have a reasonable adjustment in place are not permitted to receive correspondence from the Department by email as email is not classed as secure and there is an increased risk of data loss which could have a negative impact on both the individual and the Department.
Email must be used as a reasonable adjustment where it is requested by an individual disabled citizen who finds it difficult or impossible to communicate via other channels. Requesting communications via email must be for a valid reason which relates to the individual’s disability. Once email as a reasonable adjustment has been agreed the customer will be advised of the risks of data travelling over the unsecure network and being seen by 3rd parties via the confirmation email ‘disclaimer’ they receive.
the nanny state with a vengeance…
But surely the government have a way of sending such e-mails securely? If not then does this really constitute a “reasonable adjustment”, even with the warning?
Don’t they need an email address to send a security code to be able to progress a UC claim?
DWP are full of bizarre assertions for which they’re unable to provide one iota of evidence. The argument for explicit consent was recently espoused by Neil Couling at GMWRAG as being about ID theft; ex partners; dodgy creditors etc. You ask for the number of times such things have occurred and mysteriously there are no numbers.
Is email insecure? Absolutely. Is it less secure than snail mail? That seems rather unlikely to most commentators. Putting paper inside paper with glue and allowing it to definitely pass through multiple machines and many hands. Hmm.
I suspect this is more about management of expectations. People don’t expect amazingly quick responses to letters. They have different expectations when it comes to email. DWP are also in a tad of bovva once there is a clear audit trail of correspondence. Can’t imagine why they wouldn’t want that!
... meanwhile for PIP, written answer from Sarah Newton says -
’ A general email enquiry address is not currently available but work is underway to introduce a new online contact route as soon as possible in 2019. Where claimants require contact via email as a reasonable adjustment to make a claim, Independent Assessment Services continue to make arrangements to do so. There are a range of contact routes currently available to claimants, including a free phone enquiry line, written enquiries by post or a range of alternative formats including braille, large print, text phone & sign video to assist claimants within the claim process.’
Braille always sounds so impressive doesn’t it. Used by 4% of the 4% of people who are registered who have no vision at all.