DWP compliance review

Betty_boo369

I claim universal credit after a separation. I have recently been pulled up for a compliance review with DWP due to a “tip off from a member of the public” of my proceeds from the sale of my family home, owned jointly with my ex. Only my ex and his partner would have known the financial information that was provided in the tip off. My concern is his partner works for the job centre, which I believe is linked to DWP and she would have access to my files and information. 

My concern is she has entered my details, which is against GDPR regulations as she would have had no reason to access my file. 

How would I be able to request this information and find out if she had accessed my information? And put a complaint in if she has? Or I don’t even need to know, I just need to notify someone she may be accessing information with no reason, and for them to deal with the situation internally if my gut is correct? 

Everything I have done is legit, and there was no need for me to have been reported. I don’t want people accessing my information when not needed. 

Any guidance appreciated. Thank you! 

born_again

As you would have had a joint UC account. Has this been closed & is it now just a single person one?

If still joint, then EX partner would be able to see all journal messages.

A staff member (if they have) accessing a file they should not have a valid reason to, is likely to end in only one outcome, especially if linked to their current partner.

So long as you have declared everything as you should (such as reporting proceeds of house sale) then you have nothing to worry about.

Betty_boo369

born_again said:

As you would have had a joint UC account. Has this been closed & is it now just a single person one?

If still joint, then EX partner would be able to see all journal messages.

A staff member (if they have) accessing a file they should not have a valid reason to, is likely to end in only one outcome, especially if linked to their current partner.

So long as you have declared everything as you should (such as reporting proceeds of house sale) then you have nothing to worry about.

Thank you for your reply. We didn’t claim UC jointly. I have claimed myself since the separation due to having 2 children etc. I’m not worried about the accusation, as I didn’t do anything wrong. My gut is telling me she accessed my information as she knows my details, and I would like to find out if this is the case under GDPR regulations. I don’t know where to start. 

TELLIT01

Your ex's partner wouldn't need to access any systems in order to make an anonymous report of concern about possible fraud.  A simply phone call is all that is required.  JobCentre and DWP aren't 'linked' they are one and the same part of Government.  Most benefit processes are under the umbrella of DWP.

Muttleythefrog

I would take a line that it is unlikely she's had access to your UC claim. A tip off could have come from their direction but have been minimal in information they probably would know without need to see UC claim records. Focus on getting the compliance review done and put it behind you. I would only change this advice if there becomes more evidence of you being targeted in a hateful way by your ex or their partner.

Betty_boo369

TELLIT01 said:

Your ex's partner wouldn't need to access any systems in order to make an anonymous report of concern about possible fraud.  A simply phone call is all that is required.  JobCentre and DWP aren't 'linked' they are one and the same part of Government.  Most benefit processes are under the umbrella of DWP.

Thank you for your response. The details provided in the tip off give me suspicions which is why I am asking advice on how to manage finding out if my file has been accessed when no reason to have been. 

I’m not worried how I was reported, my concern is my details have been accessed for “personal” use for my ex to gather information. 

Betty_boo369

Muttleythefrog said:

I would take a line that it is unlikely she's had access to your UC claim. A tip off could have come from their direction but have been minimal in information they probably would know without need to see UC claim records. Focus on getting the compliance review done and put it behind you. I would only change this advice if there becomes more evidence of you being targeted in a hateful way by your ex or their partner.

My compliance review has been completed and what I did was legitimate and okay which proves this was done in a hateful way. The  information the compliance officer gave me in the interview has lead me to suspicions my file has been accessed. I just want to know how I would request this to be internally looked into. I work for a bank, if I accessed someone’s details for no reason I know I am doing wrong and there would be disciplinary action. I may be wrong, but there is a great chance my gut is correct by what I’ve been informed in regards to the tip off

KxMx

While a simple anonymous complaint is all it takes, given that exes partner does work for JCP I personally would raise a complaint so it can be checked she didn't access something she shouldn't have. For peace of mind if nothing else. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/complaints-procedure

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/personal-information-charter#dpo

Muttleythefrog

Betty_boo369 said:

TELLIT01 said:

Your ex's partner wouldn't need to access any systems in order to make an anonymous report of concern about possible fraud.  A simply phone call is all that is required.  JobCentre and DWP aren't 'linked' they are one and the same part of Government.  Most benefit processes are under the umbrella of DWP.

Thank you for your response. The details provided in the tip off give me suspicions which is why I am asking advice on how to manage finding out if my file has been accessed when no reason to have been. 

I’m not worried how I was reported, my concern is my details have been accessed for “personal” use for my ex to gather information. 

Struggling for advice on this if you are quite sure access has been gained by 'them' (bear in mind the compliance officer would have looked at your case details and I find it unlikely they'd have fed you much if anything of the fraud report details)....
but refer point 3.3 in
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65cba3bb110683000c32ed32/dwp-acceptable-use-policy.pdf
to direct your case in terms of concern as it absolutely covers what you suspect and makes clear it should not happen.

There's DWP complaints process which may do the job... but I wonder hmm... if not that and you get no better advice I'd ask in journal although they tend to be hit and miss for advice and regularly give the wrong advice.

Newcad

Betty_boo369 said:

I have recently been pulled up for a compliance review with DWP due to a “tip off from a member of the public”

Who told you that this was a “tip off from a member of the public”? Or have you simply assumed that it was?

The details provided in the tip off give me suspicions ..

If there was a complaint then you would not have been given anything other than general details of what was in the complaint itself.
Especially not anything that could lead you back to the complainant.

The  information the compliance officer gave me in the interview has lead me to suspicions my file has been accessed.

The compliance officer would of course have full access to your files so would know that information and details.
Again the officer would not give you any details of what was in the complaint itself.

TBH I think that you are putting 2 and 2 together and making 5.
I assume that you are not on good terms with your ex or their new partner?
Do you think that perhaps that could be causing a bit of bias in your views?

peteuk

I would forget about it, the review has been carried out and whatever you did was the correct way to deal with it. 

Anonymous tip off are just that - Anonymous and your ex will know this.  So if you do raise a complaint and they investigate, they wont tell you the outcome. If your ex is sacked then you might be able to conclude your own result, but in reality the complaint will be handled internally,  

If you do complain - ask yourself if you would gain anything from it, if they did say yes or no would that alter anything?  If your ex is told of an investigation will they jump to the same conclusion as you have and what effect would this have on your relationship (liven you have children).

I personally think this is a. Case of choosing the right battle and this is one Id steer away from.