CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="govuk-template" lang="en">  <head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("http://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/personal-information-charter","20230315132609","http://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1678886769"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta property="og:description" content="DWP's personal information charter (or privacy policy) tells you about how and why we use your personal information and your rights and responsibilities."> <meta property="og:title" content="Personal information charter"> <meta property="og:url" content="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/personal-information-charter"> <meta property="og:type" content="article"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="GOV.UK"> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"> <meta name="description" content="DWP's personal information charter (or privacy policy) tells you about how and why we use your personal information and your rights and responsibilities."> <meta name="govuk:taxon-slugs" content="corporate-information,working-state-pension,welfare"> <meta name="govuk:taxon-slug" content="corporate-information"> <meta name="govuk:taxon-ids" content="a544d48b-1e9e-47fb-b427-7a987c658c14,f8b6d54b-cc94-4b32-aac4-8cd344087407,dded88e2-f92e-424f-b73e-6ad24a839c51"> <meta name="govuk:taxon-id" content="a544d48b-1e9e-47fb-b427-7a987c658c14"> <meta name="govuk:themes" content="corporate-information, welfare, work"> <meta name="govuk:analytics:organisations" content="<D10>"> <meta name="govuk:public-updated-at" content="2022-07-01T10:34:38.000+00:00"> <meta name="govuk:updated-at" content="2023-02-22T14:24:46.127Z"> <meta name="govuk:first-published-at" content="2014-05-27T15:06:10.000+00:00"> <meta name="govuk:content-has-history" content="true"> <meta name="govuk:content-id" content="5f54e669-7631-11e4-a3cb-005056011aef"> <meta name="govuk:schema-name" content="corporate_information_page"> <meta name="govuk:rendering-app" content="government-frontend"> <meta name="govuk:publishing-app" content="whitehall"> <meta name="govuk:format" content="personal_information_charter"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <title lang="en"> Personal information charter - Department for Work and Pensions - GOV.UK </title> <script src="/web/20230315132609js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk_publishing_components/vendor/lux/lux-measurer-505eef3e243b1d08ea7c4b945ebe1ae146d896db61366e415b30cc1bcd84cbdc.js" async="async"></script> <script src="/web/20230315132609js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk_publishing_components/rum-loader-c53469dcb841d7b228c914a2e8bdcf3b831a578adf7d4f21cf9da5b85df7381e.js" async="async" data-lux-reporter-script="/assets/static/govuk_publishing_components/vendor/lux/lux-reporter-be0039fdd1e43d48c5c981634351f34f50993d255262daf23812d717cfe117ce.js"></script> <meta name="govuk:components_gem_version" content="34.14.0"> <script src="/web/20230315132609js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk_publishing_components/load-analytics-baa00fa03fb259a58f248e3ce4f94541a696a3081768f7400952fa6344446ae9.js"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20230315132609cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/application-6c682d78f730e9d6d583385acaa1e2d3d2fe18d464ee410459f02bf254adba0f.css" media="all">  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20230315132609im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/favicon-9ed7849c462c53aa2cdf1690eb257e801ecbf5696d1d0928868c5b032b4adb36.ico" type="image/x-icon"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="/web/20230315132609im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-mask-icon-a409a4db4a5e72c99ae3916653710064c43eb4be35821f79c07c5156e7dc5808.svg" color="#0b0c0c"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/web/20230315132609im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-180x180-026deaa34fa328ae5f1f519a37dbd15e6555c5086e1ba83986cd0827a7209902.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="167x167" href="/web/20230315132609im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-167x167-a44a5b317f51a61950697fbe6c61ffe3b5acdd89de60ef70429daa32881d5279.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="/web/20230315132609im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-152x152-828a839e5c83de19f98014eef54cec77aa11063a23ce321970d6f9310eeabb6c.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/web/20230315132609im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-5f801db05920bd1eb2b27a7a90328599bb16b6344c3213795af0f20d3ca179b0.png"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#0b0c0c"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta property="og:image" content="/web/20230315132609im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-opengraph-image-dade2dad5775023b0568381c4c074b86318194edb36d3d68df721eea7deeac4b.png"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20230315132609cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/application-36c3129e326ed60f46699aebe405adf56ef6fbffe8b6c6f89d7e0bf2776f8258.css" media="all"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20230315132609cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/print-1cb9ea3f196206dc6639481a61e767fa723f13710f8ab34c9a7b920f5ea21a19.css" media="print"> <link rel="canonical" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/personal-information-charter"> <meta name="govuk:rendering-application" content="government-frontend"> </head> <body class="gem-c-layout-for-public govuk-template__body"> <script nonce="KN9vUQ1e83flFCvjgTKziw=="> //<![CDATA[ document.body.className = ((document.body.className) ? document.body.className + ' js-enabled' : 'js-enabled'); //]]> </script> <a class="gem-c-skip-link govuk-skip-link govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="govuk-skip-link" href="#content">Skip to main content</a> <div id="global-cookie-message" class="gem-c-cookie-banner govuk-clearfix" data-module="cookie-banner" data-nosnippet role="region" aria-label="Cookies on GOV.UK"> <div class="govuk-cookie-banner js-banner-wrapper"> <div class="gem-c-cookie-banner__message govuk-cookie-banner__message govuk-width-container"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <h2 class="govuk-cookie-banner__heading govuk-heading-m">Cookies on GOV.UK</h2> <div class="govuk-cookie-banner__content"> <p class="govuk-body">We use some essential cookies to make this website work.</p> <p class="govuk-body">We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.</p> <p class="govuk-body">We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-button-group"> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit" data-module="gem-track-click" data-accept-cookies="true" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Cookie banner accepted" data-cookie-types="all">Accept additional cookies</button> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit" data-module="gem-track-click" data-reject-cookies="true" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Cookie banner rejected">Reject additional cookies</button> <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/help/cookies">View cookies</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gem-c-cookie-banner__confirmation govuk-width-container" tabindex="-1" hidden> <p class="gem-c-cookie-banner__confirmation-message" role="alert"> <span class="gem-c-cookie-banner__confirmation-message__accepted" hidden>You have accepted additional cookies. </span> <span class="gem-c-cookie-banner__confirmation-message__rejected" hidden>You have rejected additional cookies. </span> You can <a class="govuk-link" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Cookie banner settings clicked from confirmation" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/help/cookies">change your cookie settings</a> at any time. </p> <div class="govuk-button-group"> <button class="gem-c-cookie-banner__hide-button govuk-button" data-hide-cookie-banner="true" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Hide cookie banner">Hide this message</button> </div> </div> </div> <header role="banner" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header" data-module="gem-track-click ga4-event-tracker ga4-link-tracker" data-track-links-only data-ga4-expandable> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__container govuk-clearfix"> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__header-logo"> <a class="govuk-header__link govuk-header__link--homepage" data-track-action="logoLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="https://www.gov.uk" data-track-dimension="GOV.UK" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/" id="logo" title="Go to the GOV.UK homepage" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","external":"false","text":"GOV.UK","section":"Logo","index":0,"index_total":29}"> <span class="govuk-header__logotype">  <svg aria-hidden="true" class="govuk-header__logotype-crown gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__logotype-crown" focusable="false" height="30" viewbox="0 0 132 97" width="36" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M25 30.2c3.5 1.5 7.7-.2 9.1-3.7 1.5-3.6-.2-7.8-3.9-9.2-3.6-1.4-7.6.3-9.1 3.9-1.4 3.5.3 7.5 3.9 9zM9 39.5c3.6 1.5 7.8-.2 9.2-3.7 1.5-3.6-.2-7.8-3.9-9.1-3.6-1.5-7.6.2-9.1 3.8-1.4 3.5.3 7.5 3.8 9zM4.4 57.2c3.5 1.5 7.7-.2 9.1-3.8 1.5-3.6-.2-7.7-3.9-9.1-3.5-1.5-7.6.3-9.1 3.8-1.4 3.5.3 7.6 3.9 9.1zm38.3-21.4c3.5 1.5 7.7-.2 9.1-3.8 1.5-3.6-.2-7.7-3.9-9.1-3.6-1.5-7.6.3-9.1 3.8-1.3 3.6.4 7.7 3.9 9.1zm64.4-5.6c-3.6 1.5-7.8-.2-9.1-3.7-1.5-3.6.2-7.8 3.8-9.2 3.6-1.4 7.7.3 9.2 3.9 1.3 3.5-.4 7.5-3.9 9zm15.9 9.3c-3.6 1.5-7.7-.2-9.1-3.7-1.5-3.6.2-7.8 3.7-9.1 3.6-1.5 7.7.2 9.2 3.8 1.5 3.5-.3 7.5-3.8 9zm4.7 17.7c-3.6 1.5-7.8-.2-9.2-3.8-1.5-3.6.2-7.7 3.9-9.1 3.6-1.5 7.7.3 9.2 3.8 1.3 3.5-.4 7.6-3.9 9.1zM89.3 35.8c-3.6 1.5-7.8-.2-9.2-3.8-1.4-3.6.2-7.7 3.9-9.1 3.6-1.5 7.7.3 9.2 3.8 1.4 3.6-.3 7.7-3.9 9.1zM69.7 17.7l8.9 4.7V9.3l-8.9 2.8c-.2-.3-.5-.6-.9-.9L72.4 0H59.6l3.5 11.2c-.3.3-.6.5-.9.9l-8.8-2.8v13.1l8.8-4.7c.3.3.6.7.9.9l-5 15.4v.1c-.2.8-.4 1.6-.4 2.4 0 4.1 3.1 7.5 7 8.1h.2c.3 0 .7.1 1 .1.4 0 .7 0 1-.1h.2c4-.6 7.1-4.1 7.1-8.1 0-.8-.1-1.7-.4-2.4V34l-5.1-15.4c.4-.2.7-.6 1-.9zM66 92.8c16.9 0 32.8 1.1 47.1 3.2 4-16.9 8.9-26.7 14-33.5l-9.6-3.4c1 4.9 1.1 7.2 0 10.2-1.5-1.4-3-4.3-4.2-8.7L108.6 76c2.8-2 5-3.2 7.5-3.3-4.4 9.4-10 11.9-13.6 11.2-4.3-.8-6.3-4.6-5.6-7.9 1-4.7 5.7-5.9 8-.5 4.3-8.7-3-11.4-7.6-8.8 7.1-7.2 7.9-13.5 2.1-21.1-8 6.1-8.1 12.3-4.5 20.8-4.7-5.4-12.1-2.5-9.5 6.2 3.4-5.2 7.9-2 7.2 3.1-.6 4.3-6.4 7.8-13.5 7.2-10.3-.9-10.9-8-11.2-13.8 2.5-.5 7.1 1.8 11 7.3L80.2 60c-4.1 4.4-8 5.3-12.3 5.4 1.4-4.4 8-11.6 8-11.6H55.5s6.4 7.2 7.9 11.6c-4.2-.1-8-1-12.3-5.4l1.4 16.4c3.9-5.5 8.5-7.7 10.9-7.3-.3 5.8-.9 12.8-11.1 13.8-7.2.6-12.9-2.9-13.5-7.2-.7-5 3.8-8.3 7.1-3.1 2.7-8.7-4.6-11.6-9.4-6.2 3.7-8.5 3.6-14.7-4.6-20.8-5.8 7.6-5 13.9 2.2 21.1-4.7-2.6-11.9.1-7.7 8.8 2.3-5.5 7.1-4.2 8.1.5.7 3.3-1.3 7.1-5.7 7.9-3.5.7-9-1.8-13.5-11.2 2.5.1 4.7 1.3 7.5 3.3l-4.7-15.4c-1.2 4.4-2.7 7.2-4.3 8.7-1.1-3-.9-5.3 0-10.2l-9.5 3.4c5 6.9 9.9 16.7 14 33.5 14.8-2.1 30.8-3.2 47.7-3.2z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"> </path> </svg>   <span class="govuk-header__logotype-text"> GOV.UK </span> </span> </a> </div> </div> <nav aria-labelledby="super-navigation-menu-heading" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__content" data-module="super-navigation-mega-menu"> <h2 id="super-navigation-menu-heading" class="govuk-visually-hidden"> Navigation menu </h2> <div class="govuk-width-container gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__button-width-container"> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__button-container"> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item"> <a class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item-link" data-track-action="menuLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse" data-track-dimension="Menu" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse"> <span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item-link-inner"> Menu </span> </a> <button aria-controls="super-navigation-menu-3667395e" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Show navigation menu" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-top-toggle-button" data-text-for-hide="Hide navigation menu" data-text-for-show="Show navigation menu" data-toggle-desktop-group="top" data-toggle-mobile-group="top" data-tracking-key="menu" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"select_content","type":"header menu bar","text":"Menu","index":1,"index_total":2,"section":"Menu"}" hidden="hidden" id="super-navigation-menu-3667395e-toggle" type="button"> <span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-top-toggle-button-inner">Menu</span> </button> </div> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-item"> <button aria-controls="super-search-menu" aria-expanded="true" aria-label="Hide search menu" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-toggle-button" data-text-for-hide="Hide search menu" data-text-for-show="Show search menu" data-toggle-mobile-group="top" data-toggle-desktop-group="top" data-tracking-key="search" hidden id="super-search-menu-toggle" type="button" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"select_content","type":"header menu bar","text":"Search","index":2,"index_total":2,"section":"Search"}"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden"> Search GOV.UK </span> <svg class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-toggle-button-link-icon" width="27" height="27" viewbox="0 0 27 27" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <circle cx="12.0161" cy="11.0161" r="8.51613" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></circle> <line x1="17.8668" y1="17.3587" x2="26.4475" y2="25.9393" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></line> </svg> <span aria-hidden="true" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-top-toggle-close-icon" focusable="false"> × </span> </button> <a class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-item-link" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/search"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden"> Search GOV.UK </span> <svg class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-item-link-icon" width="27" height="27" viewbox="0 0 27 27" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <circle cx="12.0161" cy="11.0161" r="8.51613" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></circle> <line x1="17.8668" y1="17.3587" x2="26.4475" y2="25.9393" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></line> </svg> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="super-navigation-menu-3667395e" hidden class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-dropdown-menu"> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="govuk-grid-row gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-items"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds-from-desktop gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__column--topics"> <h3 class="govuk-heading-m gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__column-header"> Topics </h3> <ul class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items--topics"> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/benefits" data-track-dimension="Benefits" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.1","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits">Benefits</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/births-deaths-marriages" data-track-dimension="Births, death, marriages and care" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.2","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages">Births, death, marriages and care</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/business" data-track-dimension="Business and self-employed" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.3","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/business">Business and self-employed</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/childcare-parenting" data-track-dimension="Childcare and parenting" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.4","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/childcare-parenting">Childcare and parenting</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/citizenship" data-track-dimension="Citizenship and living in the UK" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.5","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship">Citizenship and living in the UK</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/cost-of-living" data-track-dimension="Cost of living support" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.6","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/cost-of-living">Cost of living support</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/justice" data-track-dimension="Crime, justice and the law" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.7","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/justice">Crime, justice and the law</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/disabilities" data-track-dimension="Disabled people" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.8","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/disabilities">Disabled people</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/driving" data-track-dimension="Driving and transport" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.9","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving">Driving and transport</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/education" data-track-dimension="Education and learning" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.10","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/education">Education and learning</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/employing-people" data-track-dimension="Employing people" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.11","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people">Employing people</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/environment-countryside" data-track-dimension="Environment and countryside" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.12","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/environment-countryside">Environment and countryside</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/housing-local-services" data-track-dimension="Housing and local services" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.13","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/housing-local-services">Housing and local services</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/tax" data-track-dimension="Money and tax" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.14","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/tax">Money and tax</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/abroad" data-track-dimension="Passports, travel and living abroad" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.15","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad">Passports, travel and living abroad</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/visas-immigration" data-track-dimension="Visas and immigration" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.16","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration">Visas and immigration</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/working" data-track-dimension="Working, jobs and pensions" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.1.17","index_total":29,"section":"Topics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/working">Working, jobs and pensions</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third-from-desktop gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__column--government-activity"> <h3 class="govuk-heading-m gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__column-header"> Government activity </h3> <ul class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items--government-activity"> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/government/organisations" data-track-dimension="Departments" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.2.1","index_total":29,"section":"Government activity"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations">Departments</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Departments, agencies and public bodies</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/news-and-communications" data-track-dimension="News" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.2.2","index_total":29,"section":"Government activity"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications">News</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">News stories, speeches, letters and notices</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/guidance-and-regulation" data-track-dimension="Guidance and regulation" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.2.3","index_total":29,"section":"Government activity"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/search/guidance-and-regulation">Guidance and regulation</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Detailed guidance, regulations and rules</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/research-and-statistics" data-track-dimension="Research and statistics" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.2.4","index_total":29,"section":"Government activity"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics">Research and statistics</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Reports, analysis and official statistics</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/policy-papers-and-consultations" data-track-dimension="Policy papers and consultations" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.2.5","index_total":29,"section":"Government activity"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/search/policy-papers-and-consultations">Policy papers and consultations</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Consultations and strategy</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases" data-track-dimension="Transparency" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"1.2.6","index_total":29,"section":"Government activity"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases">Transparency</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports</p> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="super-search-menu" hidden class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-dropdown-menu"> <div class="govuk-width-container gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-container gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-items"> <h3 class="govuk-visually-hidden"> Search </h3> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-full"> <form class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-form" id="search" data-module="ga4-form-tracker" data-ga4-form="{ "event_name": "search", "type": "header menu bar", "section": "Search GOV.UK", "action": "Search", "url": "/search/all" }" data-ga4-form-include-text action="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/search" method="get" role="search" aria-label="Site-wide"> <div class="gem-c-search govuk-!-display-none-print gem-c-search--large gem-c-search--on-white gem-c-search--separate-label" data-module="gem-toggle-input-class-on-focus"> <label for="search-main-e1f7dca5" class="govuk-label govuk-label--m">Search GOV.UK</label> <div class="gem-c-search__item-wrapper"> <input enterkeyhint="search" class="gem-c-search__item gem-c-search__input js-class-toggle" id="search-main-e1f7dca5" name="q" title="Search" type="search" value=""> <div class="gem-c-search__item gem-c-search__submit-wrapper"> <button class="gem-c-search__submit" type="submit" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-action="searchSubmitted" data-track-label="/search/all" data-track-dimension="Search on GOV.UK" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-module="gem-track-click" enterkeyhint="search"> Search <svg class="gem-c-search__icon" width="27" height="27" viewbox="0 0 27 27" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <circle cx="12.0161" cy="11.0161" r="8.51613" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></circle> <line x1="17.8668" y1="17.3587" x2="26.4475" y2="25.9393" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></line> </svg> </button> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-full"> <h3 class="govuk-heading-m">Popular on GOV.UK</h3> <ul class="govuk-list"> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-link" data-track-action="popularLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/check-benefits-financial-support" data-track-dimension="Check benefits and financial support you can get" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"2.2.1","index_total":29,"section":"Popular on GOV.UK"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/check-benefits-financial-support">Check benefits and financial support you can get</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-link" data-track-action="popularLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/guidance/getting-the-energy-bills-support-scheme-discount" data-track-dimension="Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"2.2.2","index_total":29,"section":"Popular on GOV.UK"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/getting-the-energy-bills-support-scheme-discount">Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-link" data-track-action="popularLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/find-a-job" data-track-dimension="Find a job" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"2.2.3","index_total":29,"section":"Popular on GOV.UK"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/find-a-job">Find a job</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-link" data-track-action="popularLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/coronavirus" data-track-dimension="Coronavirus (COVID-19)" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"2.2.4","index_total":29,"section":"Popular on GOV.UK"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus">Coronavirus (COVID-19)</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-link" data-track-action="popularLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/sign-in-universal-credit" data-track-dimension="Universal Credit account: sign in" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index":"2.2.5","index_total":29,"section":"Popular on GOV.UK"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-universal-credit">Universal Credit account: sign in</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </header> <div class="gem-c-layout-for-public__blue-bar govuk-width-container"></div> <div id="wrapper" class="direction-ltr govuk-width-container"> <div class="gem-c-contextual-breadcrumbs"> <div data-module="gem-track-click ga4-link-tracker" class="gem-c-breadcrumbs govuk-breadcrumbs govuk-breadcrumbs--collapse-on-mobile"> <ol class="govuk-breadcrumbs__list"> <li class="govuk-breadcrumbs__list-item"> <a data-track-category="homeLinkClicked" data-track-action="homeBreadcrumb" data-track-label="" data-track-options="{}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"breadcrumbs","index":{"index_link":"1"},"index_total":"2"}" class="govuk-breadcrumbs__link" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/">Home</a> </li> <li class="govuk-breadcrumbs__list-item"> <a data-track-category="breadcrumbClicked" data-track-action="2" data-track-label="/corporate-information" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"2","dimension29":"Corporate information"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"breadcrumbs","index":{"index_link":"2"},"index_total":"2"}" class="govuk-breadcrumbs__link" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/corporate-information">Corporate information</a> </li> </ol> </div> </div> <main role="main" id="content" class="corporate-information-page" lang="en"> <div class="department-for-work-pensions-brand-colour"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="gem-c-title govuk-!-margin-top-8 govuk-!-margin-bottom-8"> <h1 class="gem-c-title__text govuk-heading-xl"> Personal information charter </h1> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third"> <nav role="navigation" class="gem-c-translation-nav govuk-!-display-none-print gem-c-translation-nav " aria-label="Translations"> <ul class="gem-c-translation-nav__list"> <li class="gem-c-translation-nav__list-item"> <span lang="en">English</span> </li> <li class="gem-c-translation-nav__list-item"> <a hreflang="cy" lang="cy" rel="alternate" class="govuk-link gem-c-translation-nav__link " href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/personal-information-charter.cy">Cymraeg</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <p class="gem-c-lead-paragraph">DWP's personal information charter (or privacy policy) tells you about how and why we use your personal information and your rights and responsibilities.</p> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <hr class="govuk-section-break govuk-section-break--visible"> <div class="govuk-!-width-one-half govuk-!-margin-top-3 responsive-bottom-margin"> <div class="gem-c-organisation-logo brand--department-for-work-pensions"> <a class="gem-c-organisation-logo__container gem-c-organisation-logo__link gem-c-organisation-logo__crest gem-c-organisation-logo__crest--single-identity brand__border-color" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions"> <span class="gem-c-organisation-logo__name">Department<br>for Work & <br>Pensions</span> </a> </div> </div> <div id="contents" class="app-c-contents-list-with-body" data-module="sticky-element-container"> <div class="responsive-bottom-margin"> <nav data-module="gem-track-click" aria-label="Contents" class="gem-c-contents-list" role="navigation"> <h2 class="gem-c-contents-list__title"> Contents </h2> <ol class="gem-c-contents-list__list"> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 1" data-track-label="#data-protection-principles" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Data protection principles"}" href="#data-protection-principles">Data protection principles</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 2" data-track-label="#what-dwp-uses-personal-information-for" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"What DWP uses personal information for"}" href="#what-dwp-uses-personal-information-for">What DWP uses personal information for</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 3" data-track-label="#the-types-of-data-that-dwp-use" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"The types of data that DWP use"}" href="#the-types-of-data-that-dwp-use">The types of data that DWP use</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 4" data-track-label="#who-dwp-holds-information-about" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Who DWP holds information about"}" href="#who-dwp-holds-information-about">Who DWP holds information about</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 5" data-track-label="#how-dwp-shares-information-about-you" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"How DWP shares information about you"}" href="#how-dwp-shares-information-about-you">How DWP shares information about you</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 6" data-track-label="#dwp-service-providers" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"\nDWP service providers"}" href="#dwp-service-providers"> DWP service providers</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 7" data-track-label="#how-long-dwp-keeps-your-data" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"How long DWP keeps your data"}" href="#how-long-dwp-keeps-your-data">How long DWP keeps your data</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 8" data-track-label="#the-legal-basis-for-processing-your-data" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"The legal basis for processing your data"}" href="#the-legal-basis-for-processing-your-data">The legal basis for processing your data</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 9" data-track-label="#processing-data-offshore" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Processing data offshore"}" href="#processing-data-offshore">Processing data offshore</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 10" data-track-label="#keeping-your-information-safe" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Keeping your information safe"}" href="#keeping-your-information-safe">Keeping your information safe</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 11" data-track-label="#artificial-intelligence" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Artificial intelligence"}" href="#artificial-intelligence">Artificial intelligence</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 12" data-track-label="#automated-decision-making" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Automated decision making"}" href="#automated-decision-making">Automated decision making</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 13" data-track-label="#dwp-uses-of-profiling" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"\nDWP uses of profiling"}" href="#dwp-uses-of-profiling"> DWP uses of profiling</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 14" data-track-label="#data-controller-information" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Data controller information"}" href="#data-controller-information">Data controller information</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 15" data-track-label="#your-rights-when-dwp-uses-your-information" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Your rights when DWP uses your information"}" href="#your-rights-when-dwp-uses-your-information">Your rights when DWP uses your information</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 16" data-track-label="#dpo" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"\nDWP’s Data Protection Officer"}" href="#dpo"> DWP’s Data Protection Officer</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 17" data-track-label="#retention" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"More about when and how long DWP keeps personal information"}" href="#retention">More about when and how long DWP keeps personal information</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 18" data-track-label="#legal-basis" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"More about the legal basis for DWP’s processing"}" href="#legal-basis">More about the legal basis for DWP’s processing</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 19" data-track-label="#other-controllers" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"How DWP works with other data controllers"}" href="#other-controllers">How DWP works with other data controllers</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 20" data-track-label="#changes-to-this-policy" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Changes to this policy"}" href="#changes-to-this-policy">Changes to this policy</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> <div class="responsive-bottom-margin"> <div class="gem-c-govspeak govuk-govspeak " data-module="govspeak"> <div class="govspeak"> <p>The Department for Work and Pensions (<abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr>) processes lots of personal data, much of it sensitive. We take data protection very seriously and understand how important it is that you can trust us with your information.</p> <div class="call-to-action"> <p>You can <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-your-personal-information-from-the-department-for-work-and-pensions" class="govuk-link">request a copy of the information DWP holds about you</a>.</p> </div> <p>This charter explains whose personal information we process, how we use it, why and what for.</p> <p>If we process your personal information, we will:</p> <ul> <li>make sure you know why we need it</li> <li>only process the personal information we need</li> <li>make sure nobody has access to it who should not</li> <li>keep it secure</li> <li>tell you through this charter or in other ways if we share it with other organisations</li> <li>ask you to agree to us sharing your information where you have a choice</li> <li>only keep it for as long as we need to</li> <li>not make it available for commercial use (such as marketing) without your permission</li> </ul> <p>If we ask you for personal information, you need to:</p> <ul> <li>give us accurate information</li> <li>tell us as soon as possible if there are any changes, such as a new address, when you start work or earn more</li> </ul> <p>This helps us to:</p> <ul> <li>keep your information accurate and up to date</li> <li>pay you the right amount of benefit</li> <li>provide the best possible service</li> </ul> <p>If you do not tell us about changes that affect any benefit that <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> is paying you, you may be prosecuted or other sanctions applied.</p> <h2 id="data-protection-principles">Data protection principles</h2> <p>We will always comply with data protection law. This says that the personal information we hold about you must be:</p> <ol> <li> <p>used lawfully, fairly and in a transparent way</p> </li> <li> <p>collected only for valid purposes that we have clearly explained to you and not used in any way that is incompatible with those purposes</p> </li> <li> <p>relevant to the purposes we have told you about and limited only to those purposes</p> </li> <li> <p>accurate and kept up to date</p> </li> <li> <p>kept only as long as necessary for the purposes we have told you about</p> </li> <li> <p>kept securely</p> </li> </ol> <h2 id="what-dwp-uses-personal-information-for">What <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> uses personal information for</h2> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> collects information to deal with:</p> <ul> <li>social security (this includes benefits, grants, loans, pensions and Housing Benefit)</li> <li>child maintenance</li> <li>the investigation or prosecution of offences relating to tax credits and benefits</li> <li>prevention and detection of fraud, and protecting public funds</li> <li>employment and training</li> <li>promoting financial planning for retirement</li> <li>policy relating to occupational and personal pension schemes</li> <li>research and analysis into matters listed above</li> </ul> <p>The information we collect about you depends on the reason for your business with us, but we may use the information for any of these purposes.</p> <p>In exceptional circumstances <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> may process your information to protect you, your community or the wider public.</p> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> uses your National Insurance number to help identify you when you use <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> services. Your National Insurance number is used by <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> and HM Revenue and Customs (<abbr title="HM Revenue & Customs">HMRC</abbr>), and Department for Communities if you live in Northern Ireland, and the Scottish Government if you live in Scotland.</p> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr>’s <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cru" class="govuk-link">Compensation Recovery Unit</a> (<abbr title="Compensation Recovery Unit">CRU</abbr>) is responsible for administering:</p> <ul> <li> <p>the Compensation Recovery Scheme – under this scheme, <abbr title="Compensation Recovery Unit">CRU</abbr> works with insurance companies, solicitors and <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> customers to recover amounts of social security benefit paid as a result of an accident, injury or disease, if a compensation payment has been made</p> </li> <li> <p>the NHS Injury Cost Recovery Scheme on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care. <abbr title="Compensation Recovery Unit">CRU</abbr> recovers costs incurred by NHS hospitals and Ambulance Trusts for treatment from injuries from road traffic accidents where people have received personal injury compensation</p> </li> </ul> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> provides the <a rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://idp-tell-us-someone-died.dwp.gov.uk/Death/Enrich/BeforeYouStart" class="govuk-link">Tell Us Once service</a> for government. Information obtained for Tell Us Once is kept separate from other <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> data and is not used for anything else by <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr>.</p> <p>Most <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> offices use closed-circuit television (<abbr title="closed-circuit television">CCTV</abbr>) to help manage security and keep people safe. <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> is a tenant of the buildings that we use, and <abbr title="closed-circuit television">CCTV</abbr> services are usually provided by either the company we rent the office from, or by the company providing security services for the office. Signs in our offices say who manages the <abbr title="closed-circuit television">CCTV</abbr> and who you should contact with any queries about this.</p> <p>Telephone calls to <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> offices and about <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> services are recorded.</p> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> will not use your data to try and sell you things, or sell your data to anyone.</p> <h2 id="the-types-of-data-that-dwp-use">The types of data that <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> use</h2> <p>The types of data that <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> processes about people will depend on the contact that <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> has with them. An easy way to see what kind of information <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> processes for a particular benefit is to look at the claim form for that benefit. Many of these are available on GOV.<abbr title="United Kingdom">UK</abbr>.</p> <p>Types of data that <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> processes include:</p> <ul> <li>personal details</li> <li>family, lifestyle and social circumstances</li> <li>financial details</li> <li>employment and education details</li> <li>goods or services provided</li> <li>education and training details</li> <li>visual images</li> </ul> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> also processes sensitive information that may include:</p> <ul> <li>physical or mental health details</li> <li>racial or ethnic origin</li> <li>political, religious or other beliefs of a similar nature</li> <li>trade union membership</li> <li>sexual life</li> <li>genetic data</li> <li>biometric data</li> <li>offences including alleged offences</li> <li>criminal proceedings, outcomes and sentences</li> </ul> <h2 id="who-dwp-holds-information-about">Who <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> holds information about</h2> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> processes data about:</p> <ul> <li>members of the public</li> <li>customers and claimants</li> <li>people who live in the customer’s or claimant’s household</li> <li>suppliers and services providers</li> <li>advisers, consultants and other professional experts</li> <li>complainants and enquirers</li> <li>relatives, guardians and associates</li> <li>offenders and suspected offenders</li> <li>employees</li> </ul> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> holds basic information (such as your name, address, date of birth) about everyone who has been allocated a National Insurance number. This information is used by <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> and <abbr title="HM Revenue & Customs">HMRC</abbr>, and also by the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.</p> <p>This is used by <abbr title="HM Revenue & Customs">HMRC</abbr> to keep records of employment and National Insurance contributions, and by <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> to pay benefits, administer pensions. We will hold more detailed information if you have claimed a benefit or used other <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> services.</p> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> sometimes needs information about people other than the person who has applied for a benefit or service to work out what that person is entitled to. For example, where a person makes a claim for Universal Credit, we need information about other people who live in the same household to work out how much the person will be paid.</p> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> uses data shared by other departments, in particular <abbr title="HM Revenue & Customs">HMRC</abbr> and Ministry of Justice, to prevent and detect fraud.</p> <h2 id="how-dwp-shares-information-about-you">How <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> shares information about you</h2> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> may share information with and get it from other organisations such as:</p> <ul> <li>other government departments</li> <li>local authorities</li> <li>social security organisations in other countries</li> <li>employers and potential employers</li> <li>social landlords</li> <li>private-sector bodies, such as energy suppliers, water companies and credit reference agencies</li> <li>financial institutions, such as banks and other organisations that may lend you money</li> <li>charitable and welfare organisations</li> <li>the emergency services</li> </ul> <p>We do this for a number of reasons, including to:</p> <ul> <li>check the accuracy of information</li> <li>help people with particular difficulties, such as troubled families</li> <li>help people get or stay in work</li> <li>child maintenance</li> <li>help people get education and training to improve their chances of getting work</li> <li>support people with independent living, including home help and respite care</li> <li>prevent or detect crime</li> <li>check payments for services</li> <li>to reduce energy bills, improve the energy efficiency of people’s homes and help citizens in fuel and water poverty</li> <li>protect public funds</li> <li>use for research or statistical purposes</li> <li>to protect you or others in an emergency</li> </ul> <p>Some social security services are also delivered under devolution agreements, for example by the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland, the Scottish Government, and some local authorities. <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> shares information when necessary for these services, as permitted by law.</p> <p>We will only ever give information about you to someone outside <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> if the law allows us to.</p> <h2 id="dwp-service-providers"> <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> service providers</h2> <p>Many <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> services are delivered with the help of other organisations, such as contractors, local authorities, charities and others. We sometimes need to share data with these organisations so they can provide <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> services properly.</p> <p>In most cases our contracted service providers – for example companies delivering the Work Programme – are acting as <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr>’s data processors. This means that <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> is responsible for ensuring they handle your data correctly.</p> <p>If you have a problem or query about how a <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> service provider is handling your personal data, tell us and we will try to resolve this for you.</p> <p><a href="#dpo" class="govuk-link">Read more about the <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> Data Protection Officer on this page</a>.</p> <h2 id="how-long-dwp-keeps-your-data">How long <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> keeps your data</h2> <p>We keep some basic information for as long as your National Insurance number exists, such as your name, date of birth and address.</p> <p>Most benefit records (the detailed information you provide us with when you claim a benefit) and information provided for other <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> services are kept after the claim ends for the period necessary for any appeals, reviews and other activity to be completed. Payment records may be kept for longer, usually 6 years if they are relevant to the tax you pay.</p> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> holds a lot of different kinds of information for a variety of different reasons, but we are committed to keep only what we need for no longer than is necessary.</p> <p><a href="#retention" class="govuk-link">Read more on this page about when and how long <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> keeps data</a>.</p> <h2 id="the-legal-basis-for-processing-your-data">The legal basis for processing your data</h2> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> processes personal data because we are required to by law, because it is the function of <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> to do so, or because it is in the public interest. Where this is the case we do not need your consent.</p> <p>We may sometimes ask for your permission or consent to do something, but only when you have a genuine choice about it. Most of the time – for example when you claim a benefit – you have to provide us with the information we need to see if you are entitled to it, and <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> is required to use that data.</p> <p><a href="#legal-basis" class="govuk-link">Read more about the legal basis for <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr>’s processing on this page</a>.</p> <h2 id="processing-data-offshore">Processing data offshore</h2> <p>The data for most of <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr>’s own systems is processed within the <abbr title="United Kingdom">UK</abbr>. Whenever any <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> data is processed outside of the <abbr title="United Kingdom">UK</abbr>, we always ensure that the data is just as safe as it would be if the processing was in the <abbr title="United Kingdom">UK</abbr>.</p> <h2 id="keeping-your-information-safe">Keeping your information safe</h2> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> treats the security of your information very seriously. We have strict security standards, and all our staff get regular training about how to keep information safe. Read our <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-procurement-security-policies-and-standards" class="govuk-link">main security policies</a>.</p> <h2 id="artificial-intelligence">Artificial intelligence</h2> <p>Artificial intelligence (<abbr title="artificial intelligence">AI</abbr>) is the use of digital technology to create systems capable of assisting or performing tasks commonly thought to require intelligence. <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> uses <abbr title="artificial intelligence">AI</abbr> to help detect and prevent fraud and error.</p> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> does not use <abbr title="artificial intelligence">AI</abbr> to replace human judgement to determine or deny a payment to a claimant. A final decision in these circumstances always involves a human agent.</p> <h2 id="automated-decision-making">Automated decision making</h2> <p>Most of the decisions <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> makes that have a substantial effect on you – for example whether or not you are entitled to a benefit – are made with meaningful input from staff. Review or appeal options are built in to all <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> benefit processes, even where this is not specifically required by data protection laws.</p> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> is developing new digital services all the time. If any new services involve automated decision-making, we will tell you about this when the decision is made.</p> <h2 id="dwp-uses-of-profiling"> <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> uses of profiling</h2> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> uses profiling to help:</p> <ul> <li>avoid asking for information or evidence that we do not need, and make sure we ask for it when necessary</li> <li>call handling and providing services – to ensure people speak to the right part of <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr>, and are offered additional support to access <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> services if they need it</li> <li>tailor support for individuals – for example to suggest skills to develop, offer specialist work coach or other support to help people gain employment</li> <li>improve <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> services</li> <li>to detect and prevent fraud and error</li> </ul> <h2 id="data-controller-information">Data controller information</h2> <p>The Department for Work and Pensions is the data controller.</p> <p>Where <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> uses contractors to deliver services they are usually acting as <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr>’s data processor, and <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> and our processors share responsibility for how your data is handled.</p> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> is the parent department for a number of arm’s length bodies – most of these are data controllers in their own right, and are responsible for any personal data that they process.</p> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> also works closely with other government data controllers, especially where functions are linked or complement each other such as tax and benefits, or employment and health.</p> <p><a href="#other-controllers" class="govuk-link">Find out more about how <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> works with other data controllers</a>.</p> <h2 id="your-rights-when-dwp-uses-your-information">Your rights when <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> uses your information</h2> <p>You have various rights about how <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> uses your data. For example, you have the <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-your-personal-information-from-the-department-for-work-and-pensions" class="govuk-link">right to access the data that we hold about you</a>. <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> does not charge for this.</p> <p>New data protection laws also provide you with:</p> <ul> <li>the right to be informed (which we do through these pages)</li> <li>the right to rectification</li> <li>the right to erasure</li> <li>the right to restrict processing</li> <li>the right to data portability</li> <li>the right to object</li> <li>the right to not be subject to automated decision-making, including profiling</li> </ul> <h3 id="right-to-rectification">Right to rectification</h3> <p>You have the right to have inaccurate personal data corrected. Let us know if your circumstances change and we will ensure your data is updated. This can be information such as your address, when you start work or when you are earning more. To tell us about a change of information, contact the <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> office or service you have been using.</p> <h3 id="right-to-erasure">Right to erasure</h3> <p>This is your right to have personal data erased when it is no longer needed. This is also known as the ‘right to be forgotten’. To find out how long <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> needs and keeps your information, see the section <a href="#retention" class="govuk-link">‘How long <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> keeps your data’ on this page</a>. <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> has to keep information about claims and services for a period after claims have ended, in case appeals or reviews are necessary, and to make sure we have finished any follow-up action.</p> <h3 id="right-to-restrict-processing">Right to restrict processing</h3> <p>The General Data Protection Regulation (<abbr title="General Data Protection Regulation">GDPR</abbr>) gives you the right to request <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> to restrict processing of your personal data in certain circumstances. This may be due to the accuracy of the personal data <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> hold, if the data has been unlawfully processed or <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> no longer needs the data but you would like us to keep it in order to establish, exercise or defend a legal claim. We can refuse to comply if your request is unfounded or excessive, or repetitive in nature but we will justify the decision to you and will inform you of any decision that has been made.</p> <h3 id="right-to-data-portability">Right to data portability</h3> <p>The right to data portability gives you the right to receive personal data in a structured, commonly used and machine readable format. This right only applies when you have consented to the processing of the data in question.</p> <h3 id="right-to-object">Right to object</h3> <p>The right to object dictates that you have a right to object to the processing of your personal data, specifically if the data is:</p> <ul> <li>for direct marketing purposes</li> <li>a task carried out in the public interest</li> <li>the exercise of official authority or legitimate interest</li> </ul> <h3 id="rights-related-to-automated-decision-making-including-profiling">Rights related to automated decision making including profiling</h3> <p>Automated individual decision-making is a decision made without any human involvement. Profiling involves the use of personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects such as a natural person’s performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behaviour, location or movements.</p> <p>The <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> can only carry out solely automated decision making if the decision is:</p> <ul> <li>necessary for entering into or performance of a contract between you and <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> </li> <li>authorised by law</li> <li>based on your explicit consent</li> </ul> <h5 id="how-to-exercise-your-rights">How to exercise your rights</h5> <p>You can <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-your-personal-information-from-the-department-for-work-and-pensions" class="govuk-link">request a copy of the information <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> holds about you</a>.</p> <p>To exercise or ask about any of your other rights, complete the <span id="attachment_7193559" class="attachment-inline"><a class="govuk-link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/710547/make-an-information-rights-request-to-dwp.odt"><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> information rights request form</a> (<span class="type"><abbr title="OpenDocument Text document">ODT</abbr></span>, <span class="file-size">31.8 KB</span>)</span>.</p> <p>For any other data protection questions or comments, see the <a href="#dpo" class="govuk-link">section on the Data Protection Officer’s team on this page</a>.</p> <p>You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner if you are concerned about how <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> is processing your data. If you are going to do this, we would ask you to give <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> the chance to try and put it right or address your concerns first, by <a href="#dpo" class="govuk-link">contacting our Data Protection Officer</a> using the contact details on this page.</p> <p>Read the <a rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/raising-concerns/" class="govuk-link">Information Commissioner’s guidance on reporting concerns</a>.</p> <h2 id="dpo"> <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr>’s Data Protection Officer</h2> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> has appointed a Data Protection Officer. The role of the Data Protection Officer is to make sure <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> is compliant with data protection laws and to act as a point of contact for data subjects.</p> <p>You can contact the Data Protection Officer by post at:</p> <div class="address"><div class="adr org fn"><p> DWP Data Protection Team <br>Benton Park View 6 <br>Room BP6001 <br>Mail Handling Site A <br>Wolverhampton <br>WV98 1ZX <br> </p></div></div> <p>Or by email at: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/mailto:data.protectionofficer@dwp.gov.uk" class="govuk-link">data.protectionofficer@dwp.gov.uk</a>.</p> <p>If you want access to, or a copy of, information that <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> holds about you, use the <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-your-personal-information-from-the-department-for-work-and-pensions" class="govuk-link">guidance that’s available online</a> rather than writing to the Data Protection Officer.</p> <p>Contact the Data Protection Officer at <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> before contacting the <abbr title="Information Commissioner's Office">ICO</abbr>.</p> <h2 id="retention">More about when and how long <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> keeps personal information</h2> <p>The length of time <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> keeps your data will depend on the type of <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> services you use, what kind of information it is, and whether it is information that is needed as evidence to support a benefit claim or other <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> service.</p> <p>Read the main <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-information-management-policies" class="govuk-link">instructions to <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> staff on how to manage information</a>.</p> <p>Often we will delete or destroy records in specific exercises through the year to do this more efficiently and save money. Rather than destroying every piece of information due for destruction on a particular day or week, we may do this on a monthly or quarterly basis and destroy all information of a particular type that has expired in the previous period.</p> <h2 id="legal-basis">More about the legal basis for <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr>’s processing</h2> <p>Data protection laws do not allow personal information to be used or processed unless some specific conditions are met.</p> <p>For personal data, the condition that applies to most processing done by <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> is that it is necessary for “a function of a government department”, which is allowed by section 8 of the new Data Protection Act, and Article 6(1)(e) of the <abbr title="General Data Protection Regulation">GDPR</abbr>.</p> <p>For sensitive personal information, such as information about health, most processing by <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> meets the condition that it is “necessary for the purposes of … employment, social security and social protection”. This is allowed by section 10 of the new Data Protection Act and Article 9(2)(b) of the <abbr title="General Data Protection Regulation">GDPR</abbr>.</p> <p>There may be some circumstances where <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> relies on other conditions to process personal information or sensitive personal information, but we will tell you separately if this happens.</p> <h2 id="other-controllers">How <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> works with other data controllers</h2> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> works closely with other parts of government to help deliver social security and other services. For most day-to-day <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> business, <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> is the data controller and is responsible for all aspects of how information is used. But for some of the areas where <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> works together with other organisations, we share responsibility for how your personal data is used. This section explains how this works.</p> <h3 id="hmrc"><abbr title="HM Revenue & Customs">HMRC</abbr></h3> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> and <abbr title="HM Revenue & Customs">HMRC</abbr> work very closely together, and share information often. This is because benefits and pensions are affected by how much you earn and the National Insurance contributions you have paid. Benefits, pensions and other payments you receive from <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> affect how much tax you have to pay, or tax credits that <abbr title="HM Revenue & Customs">HMRC</abbr> pay you.</p> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> and <abbr title="HM Revenue & Customs">HMRC</abbr> can use the same reference number to identify people – your National Insurance number. <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> and <abbr title="HM Revenue & Customs">HMRC</abbr> are jointly responsible for deciding how National Insurance numbers can be used, who can use them, and the other personal information associated with them.</p> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> and <abbr title="HM Revenue & Customs">HMRC</abbr> both use the same computer system (the Customer Information System) to keep a record of which National Insurance number relates to which person, and to record basic information about everyone who has a National Insurance number.</p> <p>Find out more about <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance" class="govuk-link">National Insurance numbers and what they are used for</a>.</p> <h3 id="department-of-health-and-social-care-dhsc">Department of Health and Social Care (<abbr title="Department of Health and Social Care">DHSC</abbr>)</h3> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr>, <abbr title="Department of Health and Social Care">DHSC</abbr> and the NHS work together and share information often to deliver a number of services, including:</p> <ul> <li> <abbr title="United Kingdom">UK</abbr> Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), European Health Insurance Card (<abbr title="European Health Insurance Cards">EHIC</abbr>) and other overseas healthcare services</li> <li>checking entitlement to free prescriptions and other healthcare services such as fares to hospital</li> <li>compensation recovery services</li> </ul> <h3 id="local-authorities">Local authorities</h3> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> and local authorities work together and share information often to provide a number of services, including those related to housing, welfare, health and social care, and disability.</p> <h3 id="ministry-of-defence">Ministry of Defence</h3> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> makes payments to veterans for the Ministry of Defence.</p> <h3 id="arms-length-bodies">Arm’s length bodies</h3> <p><abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> is the parent department for a number of arm’s length bodies. Some arm’s length bodies are data controllers in their own right, and responsible for all aspects of how they use personal data. These arm’s length bodies are:</p> <ul> <li>Health and Safety Executive</li> <li>The Pensions Advisory Service</li> <li>The Pensions Regulator</li> <li>National Employment Savings Trust (<abbr title="National Employment Savings Trust">NEST</abbr>) Corporation</li> <li>Disabled Peoples Employment Corporation</li> <li>Pensions Ombudsman</li> <li>Pensions Protection Fund Ombudsman</li> <li>Pension Protection Fund</li> <li>Office for Nuclear Regulation</li> </ul> <p>See full list of <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations" class="govuk-link">arm’s length bodies</a>.</p> <h3 id="office-for-national-statistics-ons">Office for National Statistics (<abbr title="Office for National Statistics">ONS</abbr>)</h3> <p><abbr title="Office for National Statistics">ONS</abbr> collect, analyse and publish statistics about the <abbr title="United Kingdom">UK</abbr>’s economy, population and society. <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> may supply personal information we hold about you to <abbr title="Office for National Statistics">ONS</abbr> to help them carry out this function.</p> <p>Find out more about <a rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance" class="govuk-link"><abbr title="Office for National Statistics">ONS</abbr> and how they manage personal data</a>.</p> <h3 id="northern-ireland">Northern Ireland</h3> <p>For people living in Northern Ireland, the <a rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/" class="govuk-link">Department for Communities</a> is responsible for many of the same services that <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> provides in England, Wales and Scotland. The Department for Communities pays similar benefits to <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> and also uses the National Insurance number for similar purposes, so some IT and other services are shared between <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> and the Department for Communities.</p> <p>The Department for Communities is the data controller for information about benefits and services they provide in Northern Ireland, but some data controller responsibilities are shared where we use the same IT systems.</p> <p>Northern Ireland departments also provide some services such as call centres and benefit processing to <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr>. Where they do this they are acting as <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr>’s data processor, and <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> remains the data controller.</p> <h3 id="scotland">Scotland</h3> <p>Responsibility for some aspects of social security for people in Scotland have been devolved to the <a rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/privacy-statement" class="govuk-link">Scottish Government</a>, and more will be devolved in the future. Current legislation allows <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> to share information with Scottish ministers for functions which have been devolved.</p> <p>As devolution continues, Scottish ministers will be responsible for more social security matters, including some benefits. <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> shares information with Scottish ministers to support the services they are responsible for. Sometimes <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> may also act as a data processor for Scottish ministers to help deliver their services. The letters and notifications for the services will tell you when <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> is acting as a data processor for Scottish ministers.</p> <h2 id="changes-to-this-policy">Changes to this policy</h2> <p>This charter was last updated on 1 July 2022 to update the information about how <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> works with local authorities. It was also updated on 24 June 2022 to remove references to the Vaccine Damage Payment scheme and amend details of how <abbr title="Department for Work and Pensions">DWP</abbr> works with the <abbr title="Department of Health and Social Care">DHSC</abbr>.</p> <p>When our charter or policy changes, we will update this page. Check this page to make sure you are aware of what information we collect, how we use it and the circumstances where we may share it with other organisations.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-sticky-element class="app-c-contents-list-with-body__link-wrapper"> <div class="app-c-contents-list-with-body__link-container"> <a class="govuk-link app-c-back-to-top dont-print" href="#contents"> <svg class="app-c-back-to-top__icon" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="13" height="17" viewbox="0 0 13 17" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <path fill="currentColor" d="M6.5 0L0 6.5 1.4 8l4-4v12.7h2V4l4.3 4L13 6.4z"></path> </svg> Contents </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="gem-c-feedback govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="feedback ga4-event-tracker"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt gem-c-feedback__js-show js-prompt" tabindex="-1"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-content"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions js-prompt-questions" hidden> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-question-answer"> <h2 class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-question">Is this page useful?</h2> <ul class="gem-c-feedback__option-list"> <li class="gem-c-feedback__option-list-item govuk-visually-hidden" hidden> <a class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-link" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffMaybeClick" role="button" hidden="hidden" aria-hidden="true" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/contact/govuk"> Maybe </a> </li> <li class="gem-c-feedback__option-list-item"> <button class="govuk-button gem-c-feedback__prompt-link js-page-is-useful" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffYesClick" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"form_submit","type":"feedback","text":"Yes", "section": "Is this page useful?"}"> Yes <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">this page is useful</span> </button> </li> <li class="gem-c-feedback__option-list-item"> <button class="govuk-button gem-c-feedback__prompt-link js-toggle-form js-page-is-not-useful" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffNoClick" aria-controls="page-is-not-useful" aria-expanded="false" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"form_submit","type":"feedback","text":"No", "section": "Is this page useful?"}"> No <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">this page is not useful</span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions gem-c-feedback__prompt-success js-prompt-success" role="alert" hidden> Thank you for your feedback </div> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions--something-is-wrong js-prompt-questions" hidden> <button class="govuk-button gem-c-feedback__prompt-link js-toggle-form js-something-is-wrong" data-track-category="Onsite Feedback" data-track-action="GOV-UK Open Form" aria-controls="something-is-wrong" aria-expanded="false" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"form_submit","type":"feedback","text":"Report a problem with this page", "section": "Is this page useful?"}"> Report a problem with this page </button> </div> </div> </div> <form action="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/contact/govuk/problem_reports" id="something-is-wrong" class="gem-c-feedback__form js-feedback-form" data-track-category="Onsite Feedback" data-track-action="GOV.UK Send Form" method="post" hidden> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__error-summary gem-c-feedback__js-show js-errors" tabindex="-1" hidden></div> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/personal-information-charter"> <h3 class="gem-c-feedback__form-heading">Help us improve GOV.UK</h3> <p id="feedback_explanation" class="gem-c-feedback__form-paragraph">Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.</p> <div class="govuk-visually-hidden" aria-hidden="true"> <label for="giraffe">This field is for robots only. Please leave blank</label> <input id="giraffe" name="giraffe" type="text" pattern=".{0}" tabindex="-1" autocomplete="off"> </div> <div class="gem-c-textarea govuk-form-group govuk-!-margin-bottom-6"> <label for="textarea-2edd2534" class="gem-c-label govuk-label">What were you doing?</label> <textarea name="what_doing" class="govuk-textarea" id="textarea-2edd2534" rows="3" spellcheck="true" aria-describedby="feedback_explanation"> </textarea> </div> <div class="gem-c-textarea govuk-form-group govuk-!-margin-bottom-6"> <label for="textarea-235ac3d1" class="gem-c-label govuk-label">What went wrong?</label> <textarea name="what_wrong" class="govuk-textarea" id="textarea-235ac3d1" rows="3" spellcheck="true"> </textarea> </div> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"form_submit","type":"feedback","text":"Send","section":"Help us improve GOV.UK"}">Send</button> <button class="govuk-button govuk-button--secondary gem-c-feedback__close gem-c-feedback__js-show js-close-form" data-track-category="Onsite Feedback" data-track-action="GOV.UK Close Form" aria-controls="something-is-wrong" aria-expanded="true"> Cancel </button> </div> </div> </form> <script nonce="KN9vUQ1e83flFCvjgTKziw=="> //<![CDATA[ document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function () { var input = document.querySelector("#giraffe"), form = document.querySelector("#something-is-wrong") form.addEventListener("submit", spamCapture); function spamCapture(e) { if (input.value.length !== 0) return; e.preventDefault(); } }); //]]> </script> <form action="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/contact/govuk/email-survey-signup" id="page-is-not-useful" class="gem-c-feedback__form gem-c-feedback__form--email gem-c-feedback__js-show js-feedback-form" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="Send Form" method="post"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds" id="survey-wrapper"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__error-summary js-errors" tabindex="-1" hidden></div> <input name="email_survey_signup[survey_id]" type="hidden" value="footer_satisfaction_survey"> <input name="email_survey_signup[survey_source]" type="hidden" value="/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/personal-information-charter"> <h3 class="gem-c-feedback__form-heading">Help us improve GOV.UK</h3> <p id="survey_explanation" class="gem-c-feedback__form-paragraph">To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.</p> <div class="govuk-form-group"> <label for="input-df799199" class="gem-c-label govuk-label">Email address</label> <input aria-describedby="survey_explanation" autocomplete="email" class="gem-c-input govuk-input" id="input-df799199" name="email_survey_signup[email_address]" spellcheck="false" type="email"> </div> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"form_submit","type":"feedback","text":"Send me the survey","section":"Help us improve GOV.UK"}">Send me the survey</button> <button class="govuk-button govuk-button--secondary gem-c-feedback__close js-close-form" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffFormClose" aria-controls="page-is-not-useful" aria-expanded="true" hidden> Cancel </button> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> <footer class="gem-c-layout-footer govuk-footer gem-c-layout-footer--border" role="contentinfo"> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="govuk-footer__navigation" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-links-only> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds govuk-!-display-none-print"> <h2 class="govuk-footer__heading govuk-heading-m">Topics</h2> <ul class="govuk-footer__list govuk-footer__list--columns-2"> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/benefits" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Benefits"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits">Benefits</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/births-deaths-marriages" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Births, death, marriages and care"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages">Births, death, marriages and care</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/business" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Business and self-employed"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/business">Business and self-employed</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/childcare-parenting" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Childcare and parenting"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/childcare-parenting">Childcare and parenting</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/citizenship" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Citizenship and living in the UK"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship">Citizenship and living in the UK</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/cost-of-living" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Cost of living support"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/cost-of-living">Cost of living support</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/justice" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Crime, justice and the law"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/justice">Crime, justice and the law</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/disabilities" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Disabled people"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/disabilities">Disabled people</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/driving" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Driving and transport"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving">Driving and transport</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/education" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Education and learning"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/education">Education and learning</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/employing-people" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Employing people"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people">Employing people</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/environment-countryside" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Environment and countryside"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/environment-countryside">Environment and countryside</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/housing-local-services" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Housing and local services"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/housing-local-services">Housing and local services</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/tax" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Money and tax"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/tax">Money and tax</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/abroad" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Passports, travel and living abroad"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad">Passports, travel and living abroad</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/visas-immigration" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Visas and immigration"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration">Visas and immigration</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/working" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Working, jobs and pensions"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/browse/working">Working, jobs and pensions</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third govuk-!-display-none-print"> <h2 class="govuk-footer__heading govuk-heading-m">Government activity</h2> <ul class="govuk-footer__list govuk-footer__list--columns-1"> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/government/organisations" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Departments"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations">Departments</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/news-and-communications" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"News"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications">News</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/guidance-and-regulation" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Guidance and regulation"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/search/guidance-and-regulation">Guidance and regulation</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/research-and-statistics" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Research and statistics"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics">Research and statistics</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/policy-papers-and-consultations" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Policy papers and consultations"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/search/policy-papers-and-consultations">Policy papers and consultations</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Transparency"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases">Transparency</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/government/how-government-works" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"How government works"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works">How government works</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/government/get-involved" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Get involved"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved">Get involved</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <hr class="govuk-footer__section-break"> <div class="govuk-footer__meta"> <div class="govuk-footer__meta-item govuk-footer__meta-item--grow"> <h2 class="govuk-visually-hidden">Support links</h2> <ul class="govuk-footer__inline-list govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-links-only> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Help"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/help">Help</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/privacy-notice" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Privacy"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/help/privacy-notice">Privacy</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/cookies" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Cookies"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/help/cookies">Cookies</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/accessibility-statement" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Accessibility statement"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/help/accessibility-statement">Accessibility statement</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/contact" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Contact"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/contact">Contact</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/terms-conditions" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Terms and conditions"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/help/terms-conditions">Terms and conditions</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" lang="cy" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/cymraeg" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Rhestr o Wasanaethau Cymraeg"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/cymraeg">Rhestr o Wasanaethau Cymraeg</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/government/organisations/government-digital-service" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Government Digital Service"}" href="/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-digital-service">Government Digital Service</a> </li> </ul> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" class="govuk-footer__licence-logo" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 483.2 195.7" height="17" width="41"> <path fill="currentColor" d="M421.5 142.8V.1l-50.7 32.3v161.1h112.4v-50.7zm-122.3-9.6A47.12 47.12 0 0 1 221 97.8c0-26 21.1-47.1 47.1-47.1 16.7 0 31.4 8.7 39.7 21.8l42.7-27.2A97.63 97.63 0 0 0 268.1 0c-36.5 0-68.3 20.1-85.1 49.7A98 98 0 0 0 97.8 0C43.9 0 0 43.9 0 97.8s43.9 97.8 97.8 97.8c36.5 0 68.3-20.1 85.1-49.7a97.76 97.76 0 0 0 149.6 25.4l19.4 22.2h3v-87.8h-80l24.3 27.5zM97.8 145c-26 0-47.1-21.1-47.1-47.1s21.1-47.1 47.1-47.1 47.2 21 47.2 47S123.8 145 97.8 145"></path> </svg> <span class="govuk-footer__licence-description" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-action="copyrightLink" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-label="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/" data-track-options="{"dimension29": "Open Government Licence v3.0"}" data-track-links-only> All content is available under the <a class="govuk-footer__link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/" rel="license">Open Government Licence v3.0</a>, except where otherwise stated </span> </div> <div class="govuk-footer__meta-item" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-action="copyrightLink" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-label="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/re-using-public-sector-information/uk-government-licensing-framework/crown-copyright/" data-track-options="{"dimension29": "© Crown copyright"}" data-track-links-only> <a class="govuk-footer__link govuk-footer__copyright-logo" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/re-using-public-sector-information/uk-government-licensing-framework/crown-copyright/">© Crown copyright</a> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <script src="/web/20230315132609js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/application-95aadcb5937bf2fc39d824ed8114d7a1fe0aa26e45db76772f9793a477be821a.js"></script> <script src="/web/20230315132609js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/application-090d25f93140905bf009be17d8a0a86a1ced10a859575f02af8bc1a77636074d.js"></script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/http://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/personal-information-charter" }, "name": "Personal information charter", "datePublished": "2014-05-27T15:06:10.000+00:00", "dateModified": "2022-07-01T10:34:38.000+00:00", "text": "DWP's personal information charter (or privacy policy) tells you about how and why we use your personal information and your rights and responsibilities.", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-73b5a4056ffe9988d02c728b56fe9fe7f90bb822322a5f6183ccbb92a99b019a.png" } }, "image": [ "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-1x1-bf9e64d759af6dfd93bede8168f3087a329f405b382aff36747db0db4b7b23e9.png", "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-4x3-13093f053c15f613acd827aff27cac83d3fab452947cbcae4c7b706dadf2f7f2.png", "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-16x9-4233cd42671827e266e284c4d5ae68fb600bd9f9e35dda663ccabbc2b6ab7ec3.png" ], "about": [ { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/corporate-information" }, { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/welfare" }, { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/employment/working-state-pension" } ], "headLine": "Personal information charter", "description": "DWP's personal information charter (or privacy policy) tells you about how and why we use your personal information and your rights and responsibilities.", "articleBody": "\u003cdiv class=\"govspeak\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Department for Work and Pensions (\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e) processes lots of personal data, much of it sensitive. We take data protection very seriously and understand how important it is that you can trust us with your information.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"call-to-action\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-your-personal-information-from-the-department-for-work-and-pensions\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003erequest a copy of the information DWP holds about you\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis charter explains whose personal information we process, how we use it, why and what for.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf we process your personal information, we will:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003emake sure you know why we need it\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eonly process the personal information we need\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003emake sure nobody has access to it who should not\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ekeep it secure\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003etell you through this charter or in other ways if we share it with other organisations\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eask you to agree to us sharing your information where you have a choice\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eonly keep it for as long as we need to\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003enot make it available for commercial use (such as marketing) without your permission\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf we ask you for personal information, you need to:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003egive us accurate information\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003etell us as soon as possible if there are any changes, such as a new address, when you start work or earn more\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis helps us to:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ekeep your information accurate and up to date\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003epay you the right amount of benefit\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eprovide the best possible service\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you do not tell us about changes that affect any benefit that \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e is paying you, you may be prosecuted or other sanctions applied.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"data-protection-principles\"\u003eData protection principles\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe will always comply with data protection law. This says that the personal information we hold about you must be:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003col\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eused lawfully, fairly and in a transparent way\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ecollected only for valid purposes that we have clearly explained to you and not used in any way that is incompatible with those purposes\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n \u003cp\u003erelevant to the purposes we have told you about and limited only to those purposes\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eaccurate and kept up to date\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ekept only as long as necessary for the purposes we have told you about\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ekept securely\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"what-dwp-uses-personal-information-for\"\u003eWhat \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e uses personal information for\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e collects information to deal with:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003esocial security (this includes benefits, grants, loans, pensions and Housing Benefit)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003echild maintenance\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe investigation or prosecution of offences relating to tax credits and benefits\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eprevention and detection of fraud, and protecting public funds\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eemployment and training\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003epromoting financial planning for retirement\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003epolicy relating to occupational and personal pension schemes\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eresearch and analysis into matters listed above\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe information we collect about you depends on the reason for your business with us, but we may use the information for any of these purposes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn exceptional circumstances \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e may process your information to protect you, your community or the wider public.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e uses your National Insurance number to help identify you when you use \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e services. Your National Insurance number is used by \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e and HM Revenue and Customs (\u003cabbr title=\"HM Revenue \u0026amp; Customs\"\u003eHMRC\u003c/abbr\u003e), and Department for Communities if you live in Northern Ireland, and the Scottish Government if you live in Scotland.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cru\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003eCompensation Recovery Unit\u003c/a\u003e (\u003cabbr title=\"Compensation Recovery Unit\"\u003eCRU\u003c/abbr\u003e) is responsible for administering:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ethe Compensation Recovery Scheme – under this scheme, \u003cabbr title=\"Compensation Recovery Unit\"\u003eCRU\u003c/abbr\u003e works with insurance companies, solicitors and \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e customers to recover amounts of social security benefit paid as a result of an accident, injury or disease, if a compensation payment has been made\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ethe NHS Injury Cost Recovery Scheme on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care. \u003cabbr title=\"Compensation Recovery Unit\"\u003eCRU\u003c/abbr\u003e recovers costs incurred by NHS hospitals and Ambulance Trusts for treatment from injuries from road traffic accidents where people have received personal injury compensation\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e provides the \u003ca rel=\"external\" href=\"https://idp-tell-us-someone-died.dwp.gov.uk/Death/Enrich/BeforeYouStart\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003eTell Us Once service\u003c/a\u003e for government. Information obtained for Tell Us Once is kept separate from other \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e data and is not used for anything else by \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMost \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e offices use closed-circuit television (\u003cabbr title=\"closed-circuit television\"\u003eCCTV\u003c/abbr\u003e) to help manage security and keep people safe. \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e is a tenant of the buildings that we use, and \u003cabbr title=\"closed-circuit television\"\u003eCCTV\u003c/abbr\u003e services are usually provided by either the company we rent the office from, or by the company providing security services for the office. Signs in our offices say who manages the \u003cabbr title=\"closed-circuit television\"\u003eCCTV\u003c/abbr\u003e and who you should contact with any queries about this.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTelephone calls to \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e offices and about \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e services are recorded.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e will not use your data to try and sell you things, or sell your data to anyone.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"the-types-of-data-that-dwp-use\"\u003eThe types of data that \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e use\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe types of data that \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e processes about people will depend on the contact that \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e has with them. An easy way to see what kind of information \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e processes for a particular benefit is to look at the claim form for that benefit. Many of these are available on GOV.\u003cabbr title=\"United Kingdom\"\u003eUK\u003c/abbr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTypes of data that \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e processes include:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003epersonal details\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003efamily, lifestyle and social circumstances\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003efinancial details\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eemployment and education details\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003egoods or services provided\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eeducation and training details\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003evisual images\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e also processes sensitive information that may include:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ephysical or mental health details\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eracial or ethnic origin\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003epolitical, religious or other beliefs of a similar nature\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003etrade union membership\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003esexual life\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003egenetic data\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ebiometric data\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eoffences including alleged offences\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ecriminal proceedings, outcomes and sentences\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"who-dwp-holds-information-about\"\u003eWho \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e holds information about\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e processes data about:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003emembers of the public\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ecustomers and claimants\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003epeople who live in the customer’s or claimant’s household\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003esuppliers and services providers\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eadvisers, consultants and other professional experts\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ecomplainants and enquirers\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003erelatives, guardians and associates\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eoffenders and suspected offenders\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eemployees\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e holds basic information (such as your name, address, date of birth) about everyone who has been allocated a National Insurance number. This information is used by \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e and \u003cabbr title=\"HM Revenue \u0026amp; Customs\"\u003eHMRC\u003c/abbr\u003e, and also by the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is used by \u003cabbr title=\"HM Revenue \u0026amp; Customs\"\u003eHMRC\u003c/abbr\u003e to keep records of employment and National Insurance contributions, and by \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e to pay benefits, administer pensions. We will hold more detailed information if you have claimed a benefit or used other \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e services.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e sometimes needs information about people other than the person who has applied for a benefit or service to work out what that person is entitled to. For example, where a person makes a claim for Universal Credit, we need information about other people who live in the same household to work out how much the person will be paid.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e uses data shared by other departments, in particular \u003cabbr title=\"HM Revenue \u0026amp; Customs\"\u003eHMRC\u003c/abbr\u003e and Ministry of Justice, to prevent and detect fraud.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"how-dwp-shares-information-about-you\"\u003eHow \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e shares information about you\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e may share information with and get it from other organisations such as:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eother government departments\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003elocal authorities\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003esocial security organisations in other countries\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eemployers and potential employers\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003esocial landlords\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eprivate-sector bodies, such as energy suppliers, water companies and credit reference agencies\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003efinancial institutions, such as banks and other organisations that may lend you money\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003echaritable and welfare organisations\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe emergency services\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe do this for a number of reasons, including to:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003echeck the accuracy of information\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ehelp people with particular difficulties, such as troubled families\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ehelp people get or stay in work\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003echild maintenance\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ehelp people get education and training to improve their chances of getting work\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003esupport people with independent living, including home help and respite care\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eprevent or detect crime\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003echeck payments for services\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eto reduce energy bills, improve the energy efficiency of people’s homes and help citizens in fuel and water poverty\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eprotect public funds\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003euse for research or statistical purposes\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eto protect you or others in an emergency\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSome social security services are also delivered under devolution agreements, for example by the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland, the Scottish Government, and some local authorities. \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e shares information when necessary for these services, as permitted by law.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe will only ever give information about you to someone outside \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e if the law allows us to.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"dwp-service-providers\"\u003e\n\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e service providers\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMany \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e services are delivered with the help of other organisations, such as contractors, local authorities, charities and others. We sometimes need to share data with these organisations so they can provide \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e services properly.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn most cases our contracted service providers – for example companies delivering the Work Programme – are acting as \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e’s data processors. This means that \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e is responsible for ensuring they handle your data correctly.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have a problem or query about how a \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e service provider is handling your personal data, tell us and we will try to resolve this for you.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#dpo\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003eRead more about the \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e Data Protection Officer on this page\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"how-long-dwp-keeps-your-data\"\u003eHow long \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e keeps your data\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe keep some basic information for as long as your National Insurance number exists, such as your name, date of birth and address.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMost benefit records (the detailed information you provide us with when you claim a benefit) and information provided for other \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e services are kept after the claim ends for the period necessary for any appeals, reviews and other activity to be completed. Payment records may be kept for longer, usually 6 years if they are relevant to the tax you pay.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e holds a lot of different kinds of information for a variety of different reasons, but we are committed to keep only what we need for no longer than is necessary.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#retention\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003eRead more on this page about when and how long \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e keeps data\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"the-legal-basis-for-processing-your-data\"\u003eThe legal basis for processing your data\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e processes personal data because we are required to by law, because it is the function of \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e to do so, or because it is in the public interest. Where this is the case we do not need your consent.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe may sometimes ask for your permission or consent to do something, but only when you have a genuine choice about it. Most of the time – for example when you claim a benefit – you have to provide us with the information we need to see if you are entitled to it, and \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e is required to use that data.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#legal-basis\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003eRead more about the legal basis for \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e’s processing on this page\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"processing-data-offshore\"\u003eProcessing data offshore\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe data for most of \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e’s own systems is processed within the \u003cabbr title=\"United Kingdom\"\u003eUK\u003c/abbr\u003e. Whenever any \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e data is processed outside of the \u003cabbr title=\"United Kingdom\"\u003eUK\u003c/abbr\u003e, we always ensure that the data is just as safe as it would be if the processing was in the \u003cabbr title=\"United Kingdom\"\u003eUK\u003c/abbr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"keeping-your-information-safe\"\u003eKeeping your information safe\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e treats the security of your information very seriously. We have strict security standards, and all our staff get regular training about how to keep information safe. Read our \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-procurement-security-policies-and-standards\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003emain security policies\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"artificial-intelligence\"\u003eArtificial intelligence\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eArtificial intelligence (\u003cabbr title=\"artificial intelligence\"\u003eAI\u003c/abbr\u003e) is the use of digital technology to create systems capable of assisting or performing tasks commonly thought to require intelligence. \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e uses \u003cabbr title=\"artificial intelligence\"\u003eAI\u003c/abbr\u003e to help detect and prevent fraud and error.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e does not use \u003cabbr title=\"artificial intelligence\"\u003eAI\u003c/abbr\u003e to replace human judgement to determine or deny a payment to a claimant. A final decision in these circumstances always involves a human agent.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"automated-decision-making\"\u003eAutomated decision making\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMost of the decisions \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e makes that have a substantial effect on you – for example whether or not you are entitled to a benefit – are made with meaningful input from staff. Review or appeal options are built in to all \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e benefit processes, even where this is not specifically required by data protection laws.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e is developing new digital services all the time. If any new services involve automated decision-making, we will tell you about this when the decision is made.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"dwp-uses-of-profiling\"\u003e\n\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e uses of profiling\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e uses profiling to help:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eavoid asking for information or evidence that we do not need, and make sure we ask for it when necessary\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ecall handling and providing services – to ensure people speak to the right part of \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e, and are offered additional support to access \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e services if they need it\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003etailor support for individuals – for example to suggest skills to develop, offer specialist work coach or other support to help people gain employment\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eimprove \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e services\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eto detect and prevent fraud and error\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"data-controller-information\"\u003eData controller information\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Department for Work and Pensions is the data controller.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhere \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e uses contractors to deliver services they are usually acting as \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e’s data processor, and \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e and our processors share responsibility for how your data is handled.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e is the parent department for a number of arm’s length bodies – most of these are data controllers in their own right, and are responsible for any personal data that they process.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e also works closely with other government data controllers, especially where functions are linked or complement each other such as tax and benefits, or employment and health.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#other-controllers\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003eFind out more about how \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e works with other data controllers\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"your-rights-when-dwp-uses-your-information\"\u003eYour rights when \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e uses your information\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou have various rights about how \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e uses your data. For example, you have the \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-your-personal-information-from-the-department-for-work-and-pensions\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003eright to access the data that we hold about you\u003c/a\u003e. \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e does not charge for this.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNew data protection laws also provide you with:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe right to be informed (which we do through these pages)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe right to rectification\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe right to erasure\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe right to restrict processing\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe right to data portability\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe right to object\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe right to not be subject to automated decision-making, including profiling\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"right-to-rectification\"\u003eRight to rectification\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou have the right to have inaccurate personal data corrected. Let us know if your circumstances change and we will ensure your data is updated. This can be information such as your address, when you start work or when you are earning more. To tell us about a change of information, contact the \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e office or service you have been using.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"right-to-erasure\"\u003eRight to erasure\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is your right to have personal data erased when it is no longer needed. This is also known as the ‘right to be forgotten’. To find out how long \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e needs and keeps your information, see the section \u003ca href=\"#retention\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003e‘How long \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e keeps your data’ on this page\u003c/a\u003e. \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e has to keep information about claims and services for a period after claims have ended, in case appeals or reviews are necessary, and to make sure we have finished any follow-up action.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"right-to-restrict-processing\"\u003eRight to restrict processing\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe General Data Protection Regulation (\u003cabbr title=\"General Data Protection Regulation\"\u003eGDPR\u003c/abbr\u003e) gives you the right to request \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e to restrict processing of your personal data in certain circumstances. This may be due to the accuracy of the personal data \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e hold, if the data has been unlawfully processed or \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e no longer needs the data but you would like us to keep it in order to establish, exercise or defend a legal claim. We can refuse to comply if your request is unfounded or excessive, or repetitive in nature but we will justify the decision to you and will inform you of any decision that has been made.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"right-to-data-portability\"\u003eRight to data portability\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe right to data portability gives you the right to receive personal data in a structured, commonly used and machine readable format. This right only applies when you have consented to the processing of the data in question.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"right-to-object\"\u003eRight to object\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe right to object dictates that you have a right to object to the processing of your personal data, specifically if the data is:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003efor direct marketing purposes\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ea task carried out in the public interest\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe exercise of official authority or legitimate interest\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"rights-related-to-automated-decision-making-including-profiling\"\u003eRights related to automated decision making including profiling\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAutomated individual decision-making is a decision made without any human involvement. Profiling involves the use of personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects such as a natural person’s performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behaviour, location or movements.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e can only carry out solely automated decision making if the decision is:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003enecessary for entering into or performance of a contract between you and \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eauthorised by law\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ebased on your explicit consent\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch5 id=\"how-to-exercise-your-rights\"\u003eHow to exercise your rights\u003c/h5\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-your-personal-information-from-the-department-for-work-and-pensions\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003erequest a copy of the information \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e holds about you\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTo exercise or ask about any of your other rights, complete the \u003cspan id=\"attachment_7193559\" class=\"attachment-inline\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"govuk-link\" href=\"https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/710547/make-an-information-rights-request-to-dwp.odt\"\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e information rights request form\u003c/a\u003e (\u003cspan class=\"type\"\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"OpenDocument Text document\"\u003eODT\u003c/abbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"file-size\"\u003e31.8 KB\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor any other data protection questions or comments, see the \u003ca href=\"#dpo\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003esection on the Data Protection Officer’s team on this page\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner if you are concerned about how \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e is processing your data. If you are going to do this, we would ask you to give \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e the chance to try and put it right or address your concerns first, by \u003ca href=\"#dpo\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003econtacting our Data Protection Officer\u003c/a\u003e using the contact details on this page.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRead the \u003ca rel=\"external\" href=\"https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/raising-concerns/\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003eInformation Commissioner’s guidance on reporting concerns\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"dpo\"\u003e\n\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e’s Data Protection Officer\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e has appointed a Data Protection Officer. The role of the Data Protection Officer is to make sure \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e is compliant with data protection laws and to act as a point of contact for data subjects.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can contact the Data Protection Officer by post at:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"address\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"adr org fn\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\n\nDWP Data Protection Team \n\u003cbr\u003eBenton Park View 6\n\u003cbr\u003eRoom BP6001\n\u003cbr\u003eMail Handling Site A\n\u003cbr\u003eWolverhampton\n\u003cbr\u003eWV98 1ZX\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOr by email at: \u003ca href=\"mailto:data.protectionofficer@dwp.gov.uk\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003edata.protectionofficer@dwp.gov.uk\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you want access to, or a copy of, information that \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e holds about you, use the \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-your-personal-information-from-the-department-for-work-and-pensions\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003eguidance that’s available online\u003c/a\u003e rather than writing to the Data Protection Officer.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eContact the Data Protection Officer at \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e before contacting the \u003cabbr title=\"Information Commissioner's Office\"\u003eICO\u003c/abbr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"retention\"\u003eMore about when and how long \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e keeps personal information\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe length of time \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e keeps your data will depend on the type of \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e services you use, what kind of information it is, and whether it is information that is needed as evidence to support a benefit claim or other \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e service.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRead the main \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-information-management-policies\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003einstructions to \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e staff on how to manage information\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOften we will delete or destroy records in specific exercises through the year to do this more efficiently and save money. Rather than destroying every piece of information due for destruction on a particular day or week, we may do this on a monthly or quarterly basis and destroy all information of a particular type that has expired in the previous period.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"legal-basis\"\u003eMore about the legal basis for \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e’s processing\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eData protection laws do not allow personal information to be used or processed unless some specific conditions are met.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor personal data, the condition that applies to most processing done by \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e is that it is necessary for “a function of a government department”, which is allowed by section 8 of the new Data Protection Act, and Article 6(1)(e) of the \u003cabbr title=\"General Data Protection Regulation\"\u003eGDPR\u003c/abbr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor sensitive personal information, such as information about health, most processing by \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e meets the condition that it is “necessary for the purposes of … employment, social security and social protection”. This is allowed by section 10 of the new Data Protection Act and Article 9(2)(b) of the \u003cabbr title=\"General Data Protection Regulation\"\u003eGDPR\u003c/abbr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere may be some circumstances where \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e relies on other conditions to process personal information or sensitive personal information, but we will tell you separately if this happens.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"other-controllers\"\u003eHow \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e works with other data controllers\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e works closely with other parts of government to help deliver social security and other services. For most day-to-day \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e business, \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e is the data controller and is responsible for all aspects of how information is used. But for some of the areas where \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e works together with other organisations, we share responsibility for how your personal data is used. This section explains how this works.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"hmrc\"\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"HM Revenue \u0026amp; Customs\"\u003eHMRC\u003c/abbr\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e and \u003cabbr title=\"HM Revenue \u0026amp; Customs\"\u003eHMRC\u003c/abbr\u003e work very closely together, and share information often. This is because benefits and pensions are affected by how much you earn and the National Insurance contributions you have paid. Benefits, pensions and other payments you receive from \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e affect how much tax you have to pay, or tax credits that \u003cabbr title=\"HM Revenue \u0026amp; Customs\"\u003eHMRC\u003c/abbr\u003e pay you.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e and \u003cabbr title=\"HM Revenue \u0026amp; Customs\"\u003eHMRC\u003c/abbr\u003e can use the same reference number to identify people – your National Insurance number. \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e and \u003cabbr title=\"HM Revenue \u0026amp; Customs\"\u003eHMRC\u003c/abbr\u003e are jointly responsible for deciding how National Insurance numbers can be used, who can use them, and the other personal information associated with them.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e and \u003cabbr title=\"HM Revenue \u0026amp; Customs\"\u003eHMRC\u003c/abbr\u003e both use the same computer system (the Customer Information System) to keep a record of which National Insurance number relates to which person, and to record basic information about everyone who has a National Insurance number.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFind out more about \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003eNational Insurance numbers and what they are used for\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"department-of-health-and-social-care-dhsc\"\u003eDepartment of Health and Social Care (\u003cabbr title=\"Department of Health and Social Care\"\u003eDHSC\u003c/abbr\u003e)\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e, \u003cabbr title=\"Department of Health and Social Care\"\u003eDHSC\u003c/abbr\u003e and the NHS work together and share information often to deliver a number of services, including:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cabbr title=\"United Kingdom\"\u003eUK\u003c/abbr\u003e Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), European Health Insurance Card (\u003cabbr title=\"European Health Insurance Cards\"\u003eEHIC\u003c/abbr\u003e) and other overseas healthcare services\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003echecking entitlement to free prescriptions and other healthcare services such as fares to hospital\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ecompensation recovery services\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"local-authorities\"\u003eLocal authorities\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e and local authorities work together and share information often to provide a number of services, including those related to housing, welfare, health and social care, and disability.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"ministry-of-defence\"\u003eMinistry of Defence\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e makes payments to veterans for the Ministry of Defence.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"arms-length-bodies\"\u003eArm’s length bodies\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e is the parent department for a number of arm’s length bodies. Some arm’s length bodies are data controllers in their own right, and responsible for all aspects of how they use personal data. These arm’s length bodies are:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eHealth and Safety Executive\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eThe Pensions Advisory Service\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eThe Pensions Regulator\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eNational Employment Savings Trust (\u003cabbr title=\"National Employment Savings Trust\"\u003eNEST\u003c/abbr\u003e) Corporation\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eDisabled Peoples Employment Corporation\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ePensions Ombudsman\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ePensions Protection Fund Ombudsman\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ePension Protection Fund\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eOffice for Nuclear Regulation\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSee full list of \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003earm’s length bodies\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"office-for-national-statistics-ons\"\u003eOffice for National Statistics (\u003cabbr title=\"Office for National Statistics\"\u003eONS\u003c/abbr\u003e)\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Office for National Statistics\"\u003eONS\u003c/abbr\u003e collect, analyse and publish statistics about the \u003cabbr title=\"United Kingdom\"\u003eUK\u003c/abbr\u003e’s economy, population and society. \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e may supply personal information we hold about you to \u003cabbr title=\"Office for National Statistics\"\u003eONS\u003c/abbr\u003e to help them carry out this function.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFind out more about \u003ca rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003e\u003cabbr title=\"Office for National Statistics\"\u003eONS\u003c/abbr\u003e and how they manage personal data\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"northern-ireland\"\u003eNorthern Ireland\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor people living in Northern Ireland, the \u003ca rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003eDepartment for Communities\u003c/a\u003e is responsible for many of the same services that \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e provides in England, Wales and Scotland. The Department for Communities pays similar benefits to \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e and also uses the National Insurance number for similar purposes, so some IT and other services are shared between \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e and the Department for Communities.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Department for Communities is the data controller for information about benefits and services they provide in Northern Ireland, but some data controller responsibilities are shared where we use the same IT systems.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNorthern Ireland departments also provide some services such as call centres and benefit processing to \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e. Where they do this they are acting as \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e’s data processor, and \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e remains the data controller.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"scotland\"\u003eScotland\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eResponsibility for some aspects of social security for people in Scotland have been devolved to the \u003ca rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/privacy-statement\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003eScottish Government\u003c/a\u003e, and more will be devolved in the future. Current legislation allows \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e to share information with Scottish ministers for functions which have been devolved.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs devolution continues, Scottish ministers will be responsible for more social security matters, including some benefits. \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e shares information with Scottish ministers to support the services they are responsible for. Sometimes \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e may also act as a data processor for Scottish ministers to help deliver their services. The letters and notifications for the services will tell you when \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e is acting as a data processor for Scottish ministers.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"changes-to-this-policy\"\u003eChanges to this policy\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis charter was last updated on 1 July 2022 to update the information about how \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e works with local authorities. It was also updated on 24 June 2022 to remove references to the Vaccine Damage Payment scheme and amend details of how \u003cabbr title=\"Department for Work and Pensions\"\u003eDWP\u003c/abbr\u003e works with the \u003cabbr title=\"Department of Health and Social Care\"\u003eDHSC\u003c/abbr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen our charter or policy changes, we will update this page. Check this page to make sure you are aware of what information we collect, how we use it and the circumstances where we may share it with other organisations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003c/div\u003e" } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "name": "Home", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "name": "Corporate information", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315132609/https://www.gov.uk/corporate-information" } } ] } </script> </body> </html>