Dwp Information Access

[curlyperm11]

If someone works for the DWP ( not sure exactly which section they work) how much access do you think they have to your information past or present of the only details they have is your name? T I A

[jackthehat]

They need your National Insurance number to open your file.
It is a disciplinary offence to have a nose through claims which you are not actively working on.

[murraymints]

if they have date of birth can do a NI number search and access whatever is on data bank.... it happened when I was in Benefits..still goes on no doubt !

[curlyperm11]

Thank you. I did think that but the person in question is renowned for being nosey and people have suggested that they like to try find out personal info. I was sure it wasn't possible unless they were working on your 'case'. Thank you

[Islay]

It is possible but it is a sackable offence to do so and they have audit trails so you have to have a really good reason to access records.

[Peter Pedant]

you can certainly record who is looking at what
it depends if DWP does it routinely
( I;m pretty sure the police do after a number of accessing scandals including infiltration by the IRA)

[THECORBYLOON]

When the systems went online, staff were allowed to access their own NI account the once, presumably because it was new and they knew folk were tempted to look anyway.

That changed years ago and random checks, some known and some unknown are carried out daily. If names are in the news, there tends to be checks carried out if claimants with the same names are accessed.

As has been said, there needs to be a valid reason for looking up details online and it's not worth the risk.