Can't get a job as no ID

Brie

Not me fortunately but I'm trying to help someone who is caught in a bad place because he can't get a job because he doesn't have any ID at all.  Obviously employers have to make sure they cover their backsides so he's managed to get to the "we'd like to employ you" stage and then can't prove who he is.  

First steps I would suggest are that he applies for a birth certificate.  But I have yet to find a way, preferably free, to get a GRO number.  At 19 he seems to be excluded from anything I've seen so far.

I would also suggest he registers to vote - as I understand it he would only need his NI No. and address to do this.  My thought on this is that he could then apply for a Voter's ID which at least would give him something to show to potential employers if only to prove he's a solid citizen.

I would like to suggest he apply for a citizenship card but this is difficult as he has none of the standard IDs that could be certified by someone who doesn't know him.  And the "official professional from their records" type of referral only gives the choice of a social worker (he has a support worker which is presumably similar but the individual doesn't talk to him ever (so no not very supportive)) or a Jobcenter work coach which would require that individual to answer calls which I think is unlikely to happen. 

And I would like to suggest he apply for a provisional driver's license - not that he's planning to learn how to drive any time soon.  But it's unclear how much this costs (gov.uk says £34 - 43 but gives no explanation).  He has a letter from DWP with his NINo.  But there's also the need to supply addresses for the last 3 years.  How rigid is that requirement?  He's living in one place now and has been since last summer but the previous years he was all over the place (not by choice). 

I've got someone who's willing to fund some of this but it's not a bottomless pot so trying to be as efficient as possible.  Fast too would be great.  His family can't help in any way, shape or form.  He's not in school so no teachers.  Not in a sports team so no coach.  As stated previous support worker refuses to help and DWP doesn't seem much better.  

Happy to hear any hints or other ideas.  Or for this to be moved to a better board if necessary.

tacpot12

There is some information on obtaining birth certificates here that might be helpful: Registers of births, marriages and deaths - FamilyConnect

The provisional driving licence is £34 if you apply online and £43 if you apply by post, but in both cases you need a proof of ID that your friend doesn't have.

Marcon

Brie said:

And the "official professional from their records" type of referral only gives the choice of a social worker (he has a support worker which is presumably similar but the individual doesn't talk to him ever (so no not very supportive)) or a Jobcenter work coach which would require that individual to answer calls which I think is unlikely to happen. 


As stated previous support worker refuses to help and DWP doesn't seem much better.  

Refuses to help or hasn't specifically been asked/pressed to do so? If they definitely won't help, then an official complaint might be the best way to 'encourage' a bit of action from them.

Ditto the Jobcentre work coach. You say it is 'unlikely' they will answer calls, but actually that's part of their job. Again, try it and if you get nowhere, there's an official complaints procedure you can use.

Brie said:

First steps I would suggest are that he applies for a birth certificate.  But I have yet to find a way, preferably free, to get a GRO number.  At 19 he seems to be excluded from anything I've seen so far.

Anyone can order a birth certificate - they are public records: https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/register.asp 

Brie

@Marcon
re the support worker....there have been messages left by the young man which no one seems to deal with, when he calls the phone doesn't get answered, ring back a minute later and it's turned off.  So refusing to engage.  A colleague has rung today and we're hoping that with an unknown number he might manage to get through.  And there's a big difference between an under confident teen and a determined 60something.

re DWP....when I was personally dealing with the JobCentre last year I was flat out told that they don't give out individual phone numbers and that you need to ring a central line and the "might" get back to you.  I did complain and the individual simply lied about what happened.  The manager of the centre didn't bother to respond to any of my comments just passed them back to "my" work coach who then lied some more.  So, no, not very high expectations there.

re applying for birth certificates....yes anyone can get one but it helps to have the GRO which I've yet to manage.

Grumpelstiltskin

Birth certificate, which part of the UK was he born in? The information above only covers England and Wales.

theoretica

Your local library may be able to advise about GRO number - was he born in the same part of the UK or further away? They may well know the options anyway, or have subscriptions to some of the paid resources.  Unfortunately the easy route I know isn't up to date enough for people as young as he is.

If the library can't easily help, try getting his local councillor, or MP to be useful.

Spendless

re - support worker. Is their phone number the only way to reach them or the organisation they work for? Is there an email, a central phone number, a physical place to drop in and speak to someone? 

After that I'd say birth certificate, that is your starting point. Once he has that, he can either apply for a passport or driving licence, whichever works out the best to do in terms of cost, ease and timings.

My DD is just 20 has had several p-time jobs around being a student and each place has asked for photo ID (i'm not convinced how recognised other things are other than the passport/licence) and NI number.  The person who has generously offered to pay for these could do a rough add up round it up for any postage and say that's all they would be able to pay for. If costs came in a bit higher than this would the young man be amenable to paying anything additional back once he found work as a thank you? 

Teapot55

Anyone can order a birth certificate - they are public records

Yes, fairly sure too that a birth certificate is not evidence of identity. 

noitsnotme

Teapot55 said:

Anyone can order a birth certificate - they are public records

Yes, fairly sure too that a birth certificate is not evidence of identity. 

Neither is a payslip but you can use one of those plus a birth certificate to apply for a provisional driving licence apparently - https://www.gov.uk/id-for-driving-licence

*edit - I know the person in question doesn’t have a payslip, I was just pointing out you can apply for a driving licence using things that do not evidence identity.

OhWow

Employers must check that a person has a right to work in the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-work-checks-employers-guide

A UK birth certificate does not mean that a person is allowed to work in the UK because for those born from 1 January 1983, being born in the UK does not make that baby a British citizen. British citizenship comes through the parent/s.

If he is a British citizen, he can apply for a British citizen passport. A British citizen is allowed to live and work in the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport/what-documents-you-need-to-apply

theoretica

OhWow said:

Employers must check that a person has a right to work in the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-work-checks-employers-guide

Which includes:

"A birth or adoption certificate issued in the UK, together with an official document giving

the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a
government agency or a previous employer."

Does he have documentation of his NI number?