Action to take following the return of data from DWP
Action to take following the return of data from DWP
When your matched data is returned from DWP, you will need to assess whether the applicant’s identity has been established according to the pass/fail rating supplied.
Pass matches
Where a pass rating is returned by DWP for an applicant’s identity, you can be confident that the applicant is the person they claim to be on their application.
You will also need to establish that the applicant fulfils their other eligibility criteria (age, nationality, residence) before determining the application. You may have already done this before receiving the match results from DWP.
Fail matches
If a fail rating is returned by DWP, this indicates that it has not been possible to establish that person’s identity and you cannot be satisfied that the applicant is the person that they claim to be on their application at this stage.
You may contact the applicant to query the information given on the application using any communication channel that you have contact details for. You should ask the applicant to supply their full application information - name, address, DOB and NINo (which will only be held if the application was made by paper form). These details should be checked against the original application.
You should not supply any details of any information given in an application to the applicant.
What if an applicant has made an error on their application?
If the applicant has made an error on their application, you should:
resubmit their personal identifiers to the IER Digital Service for a further check
write to the applicant to tell them that based on additional information supplied by them, a change has been made to their application
You should not include any personal identifier information (NINo and DoB) in the letter.
What if an applicant has not made an error on their application?
If no error has been made on the application and local data sources cannot be used (or have not been used) to be able to establish the applicant’s identity, you should write to the elector to inform them that it has not been possible to verify their identity and request they supply documentary proof of their identity. This is known as the exceptions process.
Applicants whose identity can be verified through either the DWP match or local data matching should be added to the register of electors at the next available update, providing the eligibility criteria have been met and the applicant has been positively determined. A confirmation letter should be sent if appropriate.