How do you have valid ID if you haven’t got a driving license or can afford a passport.

[whippitwoowoo]

A vulnerable person I know is trying to claim UC. They have neither id documents or own a mobile phone. They just can’t afford one.
I’ve tried to help them with a claim but we are going round and round in circles trying to validate their identity.
They have also been evicted so their paperwork is not the correct address.
I’ve spoken to the UC helpline who have said the person must sign up and validate themselves.

It’s so frustrating and they are desperate to get a claim moving. The claim has been entered on the system but they can’t validate themselves.
Any advice ?

@whippitwoowoo

A vulnerable person I know is trying to claim UC. They have neither id documents or own a mobile phone. They just can’t afford one. I’ve tried to help them with a claim but we are going round and round in circles trying to validate their identity. They have also been evicted so their paperwork is not the correct address. I’ve spoken to the UC helpline who have said the person must sign up and validate themselves.

It’s so frustrating and they are desperate to get a claim moving. The claim has been entered on the system but they can’t validate themselves.
Any advice ?

Apply for Provisional licence,it's about £20 ish quid And is accepted as ID

@whippitwoowoo

Thanks. He does have a current care of address. It’s only temporary though. His bank statements are in a previous address that he has no access to.

He needs to change his address with the bank but at the moment getting any funds is a priority

Contact the bank and update the address to the C/o address and requests statements to be resent

Provisional license is £34 not £20 and there is a long wait due to covid backlogs.

He can’t apply for a provisional license.

@Peppapigforlife

Order him a free sim card online and activate it in your phone. Let him access the number that way

It's a freephone number for UC. That said, you can get a mobile phone and some credit for around £20. They will be able to ID him by other means.

If you are in UK

There is an advertisement from Shelter that says it will help people get a bank account who don't have one or an address

Contact Shelter

@VanCleefArpels

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/help-to-claim/

Call CA Help to Claim who will explain how to do the verification in those circumstances.

This

@wearetheheroes I think she means that he needs his own mobile phone number to validate his online account for a call back or security text message.

[quote Peppapigforlife]@wearetheheroes I think she means that he needs his own mobile phone number to validate his online account for a call back or security text message.[/quote]
Then she could buy him a cheap phone and a SIM with some credit to help him out.

@WeAreTheHeroes you are assuming she is in a position to do so and feels comfortable doing so.

The OP was prepared to ring them herself.

What you should do is call the Service Centre and ask to make a phone claim. This is for people who do not have the knowledge/equipment to make a claim online. The agent will take all the required info and then an appointment will be made for a work coach to call to verify ID.

Thank you. This is very useful

UC staff have access to government records to verify his identity in an alternate way. Eg they have records of past addresses, past names etc and can create security questions to check his identity.

I don’t think the flexible support fund can be used on for phone though. I thought it was only for job related expenses like childcare/travel costs for the first month and smart clothing. It’s designed to remove the barrier to start work.

UC advance might be more appropriate to get a phone

Can I ask ? How would he go about requesting a flexible support fund. Is it through a social worker?

My friend was in the same situation. He had to have a letter from the manager of his nursing home and a letter from his social worker.