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Open Bank Account Without ID

My 19 year old grandson has been suffering with mental health issues now for over five years. He is currently receiving therapy and we have been told he can claim for PIP and Universal Credit as he is unable to apply for jobs due to his disability. He is unable to claim either of these payments as he doesn’t have a bank account. I have been trying for over a month now to secure him a bank account. This has become a difficult tasks, although the GP will write a letter confirming his address etc., but he still needs some form of ID. Decided to apply for a driving licence as we have been told this would be ID, but he needs ID to apply for a driving licence! Is there anyway round this merry go round I’m on? I would be very grateful for any help or suggestions.
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Comments

  • eDicky
    eDicky Posts: 6,835 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Long gone are the days when you could walk into a bank and set up your account without producing any kind of ID.

    The UK does not have a national ID card, but your grandson is (presumably) eligible for a UK passport. Some documentation, beginning with birth certificate (not in itself proof of identity) will be required, and the doctor can countersign the application and photos as verification.
    Evolution, not revolution
  • My 19 year old grandson has been suffering with mental health issues now for over five years. He is currently receiving therapy and we have been told he can claim for PIP and Universal Credit as he is unable to apply for jobs due to his disability. He is unable to claim either of these payments as he doesn’t have a bank account. I have been trying for over a month now to secure him a bank account. This has become a difficult tasks, although the GP will write a letter confirming his address etc., but he still needs some form of ID. Decided to apply for a driving licence as we have been told this would be ID, but he needs ID to apply for a driving licence! Is there anyway round this merry go round I’m on? I would be very grateful for any help or suggestions.
    Wouldn't those mental health issues prevent him applying for a driving license?
    :o
  • MovingForwards
    MovingForwards Posts: 17,131 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Sixth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    Who do his parents bank with?
    - sometimes banks allow an account to be opened up off the back of the parents banking with them.

    Is he on the electoral roll?
    - banks do an electronic verification and only ask for ID if they can't confirm the residency.

    Does he have his NI card, letters from HMRC with his tax code, birth certificate etc.

    Has he tried opening a basic bank account as these are easier to open, as they allow for zero credit history, but electronic verification or normal evidence based verification.

    I think DWP can pay into someone elses account. This would also act as bank ID if he claims benefits.

    Have you looked at bank ID requirements as they are quite simple once you get through the usual passport/licence bit.
    Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear it in 2026.
  • YorkshireBoy
    YorkshireBoy Posts: 31,541 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I'm not sure why it's proving so difficult. For example, with Nationwide* the following will suffice:

    Proof of name:

    "Letter from a professional person who knows you (solicitor, accountant, doctor, social worker or probation officer)"

    and

    Proof of address:

    "Letter from Benefits Agency, including Universal Credit welcome letters (must be less than 12 months old)"

    ...both of which he has?


    * Other banks and BS must be similar?


    https://www.nationwide.co.uk/support/support-articles/manage-your-account/proving-your-identity
  • just_trying
    just_trying Posts: 1,010 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 500 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    He could get a provisional easily surely. A letter with his national insurance number or his original letter, his birth certificate and maybe his doctor or someone else will countersign.
  • We have letters from HMRC with his address on and his NI number, but Nationwide told us that this is not proof of address or ID and they will not accept it. They have told us they will accept a letter addressed to them from his doctor and a driving licence. His mother is speaking with her bank to see if they can help us, but as yet no response from them. My thinking is now to consider a savings account in the hope his money could be paid into this.
  • p00hsticks
    p00hsticks Posts: 13,912 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    He is unable to claim either of these payments as he doesn’t have a bank account.


    This shouldn't preclude him from claiming benefits - could he not at least temporarily get it paid into a parent's account ? Once he is in receipt of PIP and/or UC then the entitlement letter from DWP should privde at least one of the necessary pieces of ID required for him to open a bank account in his own name and get the benefit payments shiften over to it.
  • xylophone
    xylophone Posts: 45,426 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    He is under age 20 so I wonder would this do as a first step? The benefits could be paid in and he could have an ATM card.

    https://www.ybs.co.uk/savings/product.html?id=FREEDOM

    The parent might ring the contact number?
  • colsten
    colsten Posts: 17,597 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    xylophone wrote: »
    He is under age 20 so I wonder would this do as a first step? The benefits could be paid in and he could have an ATM card.

    https://www.ybs.co.uk/savings/product.html?id=FREEDOM

    The parent might ring the contact number?

    From the "How to apply" section of that link:
    When you apply for this account with us, you’ll need to verify your identity and address , and that of your child.

    Back to the drawing board.
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