Distressing UC migration situation (from IR ESA)

LonelyFatGuy

iklepig said:

Whether or not it was a Northern Ireland driving licence is irrelevant. 

It's relevant to me because part of this enquiry is about trying to establish if it's an issue that only affects NI driving licences. 

LonelyFatGuy

Randomreader said:

NI driving licences are in a different format to rest of UK and the UC system is not set up to recognise them.

Are you stating this as absolute fact...?

Have you seen previous threads, stories in the media, or anything official from UC / DWP that supports that statement...?

Muttleythefrog

LonelyFatGuy said:

iklepig said:

Whether or not it was a Northern Ireland driving licence is irrelevant. 

It's relevant to me because part of this enquiry is about trying to establish if it's an issue that only affects NI driving licences. 

You may be interested in this which I found.
https://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/questions/printquestionsummary.aspx?docid=400682

It confirms the issue has been raised from political level with UC regarding functionality on non UK passports and NI DLs. We're talking public body software however and getting changes can be like treading through syrup. Ultimately I suspect the DL issue will get fixed because it seems outside of what you would expect for a system that covers 4 countries to not have a standard ID document able to be considered for one of them in the first line of electronic checking. Non UK passports I suspect is an issue that will never be fixed as that presents issues that are likely never to be overcome.

Muttleythefrog

LonelyFatGuy said:

Randomreader said:

NI driving licences are in a different format to rest of UK and the UC system is not set up to recognise them.

Are you stating this as absolute fact...?

Have you seen previous threads, stories in the media, or anything official from UC / DWP that supports that statement...?

Refer above link from me to deal with this query... and dare I say it but you yourself started the thread because you claimed the UC system is not set up to recognise the NI DL particulars... so I don't know why you're having a go at a member for effectively saying your experience matches the reality of the system. And may I suggest you stop being aggressive towards other members.... we're here to help... you've resolved the immediate issue that presented (ID checks for starting the claim are now done)... and you're angry but nobody here is responsible for the failings of design in the UC software or system (unless someone has any work history relevant to declare that hasn't!) Ultimately many UC claimants don't have any photo IDs.. they can't drive or go on foreign holiday for example so do not need a DL or passport... and they end up having to face ID like in your raised case using the alternatives presenting. As the issue has been raised from political level and several times and UC are aware of this... I see nothing you can do other than wait for a fix which of course is too late in your case but one day hopefully will save some other NI based claimants the same issue. The discrimination angle is a non starter I would suggest... since the ID system discriminates against a near endless list of potential categories of people directly or indirectly including the disabled, poor, and foreign nationals....BUT.. Ultimately ID can be verified by other measures as demonstrated and even with no photo ID available and they would surely make that their legal defence that they have alternative provisions to ensure people facing the difficulty are not disadvantaged in potential to claim. From the cases coming through MSE ultimately I'm not seeing any problem cases ending without successful completion of checks.

Randomreader

LonelyFatGuy said:

Randomreader said:

NI driving licences are in a different format to rest of UK and the UC system is not set up to recognise them.

Are you stating this as absolute fact...?

Have you seen previous threads, stories in the media, or anything official from UC / DWP that supports that statement...?

I don’t work for UC but I do work with  benefit claimants and I have been told by UC staff when querying why they cannot verify ID online that the system does not recognise NI driving licences.