HUGGG VOUCHER ID Please help!

brightondave

My daughter has been advised that she may receive this voucher up to £200 from the household support fund and to apply with one of the following documents for personal id?
A driving licence  (she doesn't drive) or a passport (she hasn't got one). She got in touch with the council who sent the email who said she should get in touch with the DWP and her DWP work coach said she should speak to the council?
They said about a citizen card which takes about 4 weeks for £15 but if you pay £30 you can get it in a few days?
(You couldn't make it up?)
So apart from a photo id driving licence or a passport will anything else be acceptable as personal id?
Thankyou for any constructive advice

la531983

To be honest if she doesnt have any photo ID at all it might be worth just biting the bullet and paying the oneoff cost to get some. Not sure how I would manage without any tbh. 

Pretty sure you can apply for a provisional driving license even if she wasnt planning to learn to drive and this is accepted in some settings, although you may want to check it will be accepted here, some agencies have been getting increasingly sniffy about their use.  

As to what else will be accepted, she would have to go back to the people asking, different agencies will accept different things. The list of photo ID accepted at this years elections was extensive, the ones accepted here maybe less so.

Newcad

I don't know that particular scheme but although it is common to ask for DL or Passport  (because it's easier) all such schemes have to have alternatives built in for those who can't provide either one.

It is often the case that the front line staff only know what they have been told to ask for and often aren't told so don't even know that the alternative methods of proof have to exist.

I would ask to speak to their superior and remind the council to consider their responsibilities under the "Equalities Act 2010" (quote that at them, it can be the magic words).

Muttleythefrog

To be honest.... you're probably asking the wrong people.... unfortunately it comes down to what organisations will accept... there is no universal list for these things. Usually organisations would have a wider list for evidence of ID than just Passport or DL and a separate list for address proofs if required... and often a fall back to combination of documents where a good document is not available. Things like shotgun licence are often accepted but I'm assuming they won't have that... otherwise a Biometric Residence Permit and they won't have that if they're British. Just have to go back to council and escalate if necessary to get a full list of what may be suitable. In the meantime perhaps they should consider getting a passport or provisional DL... they costs money but can be useful.... and obviously bank account and name on utility bills perhaps.

tomtom256

Newcad said:

I don't know that particular scheme but although it is common to ask for DL or Passport  (because it's easier) all such schemes have to have alternatives built in for those who can't provide either one.

It is often the case that the front line staff only know what they have been told to ask for and often aren't told so don't even know that the alternative methods of proof have to exist.

I would ask to speak to their superior and remind the council to consider their responsibilities under the "Equalities Act 2010" (quote that at them, it can be the magic words).

Confused as to what the equalites act has to do with ID? ID documents aren't a protected charateristic and you aren't being treated differently just because you haven't got either, as nothing is stopping anybody from applying for a drivers licence or a passport. Your work coach would fund a drivers licence as a barrier to work via the flexible support fund.

If a certin scheme needs x, y or z, then thats what is needed, it would certainly be worth asking if they can accept any other ID such as benefit letter/statement.

Muttleythefrog

tomtom256 said:

Newcad said:

I don't know that particular scheme but although it is common to ask for DL or Passport  (because it's easier) all such schemes have to have alternatives built in for those who can't provide either one.

It is often the case that the front line staff only know what they have been told to ask for and often aren't told so don't even know that the alternative methods of proof have to exist.

I would ask to speak to their superior and remind the council to consider their responsibilities under the "Equalities Act 2010" (quote that at them, it can be the magic words).

Confused as to what the equalites act has to do with ID? ID documents aren't a protected charateristic and you aren't being treated differently just because you haven't got either, as nothing is stopping anybody from applying for a drivers licence or a passport.

I presume they're referring to disability which is a protected characteristic and indirect discrimination as disabled people are less likely to have a driving licence.... I can't see data but I would take a punt same is true of passport....i.e. if the council say only these documents are acceptable (and it is likely they ultimately won't as they'll have more options) then a disabled person would be potentially discriminated against in getting the service.

These things can work as threat.... 'I'll copy in my MP' is my go to

Newcad

Muttleythefrog said:

I presume they're referring to disability which is a protected characteristic and indirect discrimination as disabled people are less likely to have a driving licence.... I can't see data but I would take a punt same is true of passport....i.e. if the council say only these documents are acceptable (and it is likely they ultimately won't as they'll have more options) then a disabled person would be potentially discriminated against in getting the service.

These things can work as threat.... 'I'll copy in my MP' is my go to

Yes indeed, that is the way that it works.

Those with disabilities can be unable to hold a driving licence (eg. If you have epilepsy, or are blind, or, the DVLA will not issue a DL).
For the same reasons they may never travel abroad, whilst that may be seen as more of a choice insisting that they apply for, and pay for, a passport that will never be used except for ID purposes would be considered unreasonable.

Insisting on only accepting a form of ID that some are unable to obtain for medical reasons is against the EA 2010, (and insisting on a form of ID that has to be paid for is unreasonable), and so alternative forms of ID that can be freely obtained must be allowed as a "Reasonable Adjustment"..

That then of course carries over so that once the ID alternatives are allowed then they are allowed for everyone (even if EA10 doesn't apply directly to you).

So quoting "Equalities Act 2010" at them, telling them it means that they have to have alternatives, and to check with a superior, is usually a magic phrase that makes them check - and when they do check they then find that they do allow alternative forms of ID, and have done all along.

Welfare and benefits advisors frequently use EA10 as the magic bullet/phrase when council and DWP staff are being awkward about such things - because it works.