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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you give personal details to social worker to help you apply for council housing?

55 replies

upsetandang · 06/11/2020 10:58

My social worker (not actually a social worker but same kind of role, not sure what they actually are called) wants our password to our online housing application form. we aren't homeless but need to move for medical reasons.

SW wants to log on to our account to make sure we have filled it out properly. There's a lot of private information on there- income, savings, national insurance numbers and also a detailed letter from the doctor detailing very private symptoms of an illness. All information id rather not share to be honest.

does this seem normal? to be honest I am worried she only wants to log on to be nosey. I know its a mean thing to say but that is my main worry. I don't want to share this information but I also don't want to hinder my application.

Is this a normal request does anyone know?
she has called 3x requesting the log in details and I have put it off. I don't really know what to say, am I being unreasonable declining her offer?
or should I just suck up the embarrassme t and accept the help?
not sure how it is help as I have done all I can and I know my own details

would you share this info?
small community and we know many of the same people as not to drip feed.

yabu - give her log in password
yanbu - keep it and decline

OP posts:
MaskingForIt · 06/11/2020 12:20

Absolutely not, and I’d be contacting her supervisor and asking if this is standard procedure. She sounds dodgy.

SmudgeButt · 06/11/2020 12:25

Potential scammer.

So many people use the same logon and password for everything so once she has this she could potentially get into your bank account, credit cards etc.

Possibly you have a distinct logon/password for everything but the success with scams is to ask a lot of people and make money off the few who are foolish enough to fall for it.

Waveysnail · 06/11/2020 12:38

Can you print the details or screen shot and email it to her?

Californiabakes · 06/11/2020 12:45

It’s not normal

grenlei · 06/11/2020 12:51

from a security POV, you should never be giving anyone a password to anything. I actually feel it's very unprofessional of her to have asked. Send her screenshots by all means but she should not be requesting your login details!

LadyOfTheImprovisedBath · 06/11/2020 13:03

from a security POV, you should never be giving anyone a password to anything.

^^ This. I'm constantly suprised on here the number of people who don't see issue with this.

Oldsu · 06/11/2020 13:23

@37weekswithno2

Well what's her role and what organisation is she from

I work for a charity that assists people with universal credit and during lockdown we've been helping people over the phone. If they want to update something on their account then they have to give us their log in details or we can't help them.
If you don't trust her or don't want her help then don't give her the details but it sounds like she's just trying to help you.

WHY? cant you help them what is the legal reason for this
Aroaringfire · 06/11/2020 13:38

When I was a support worker we would routinely sit with people to set up the accounts for housing and benefits - and would have their log in details. However that was because they were people who didn't feel confident with computers, didn't want to use them and had no choice not to, so we would effectively hold the account for them and talk them through every step. That's really not unusual for the client group that support workers may work with, and more so now given that most support is by phone. However it certainly doesn't mean anyone should have to share details. It is common though and not likely to be a scam.

Aroaringfire · 06/11/2020 13:39

@Oldsu because to help the person with the account you either need to be sat there with them looking at the same screen or you need to log in yourself. You can't go into the job centre and talk to a person of behalf of someone any more (that's been the case long before covid)

lucie8881 · 06/11/2020 13:40

Whilst she may have your best interests at heart sharing your personal login details doesn't sound legit at all. Surely if access to accounts were needed in her role there would be a way of her accessing the accounts herself.

As it stands if she logs in with your credentials she'll only be able to review what you've put, and advise. Any amendments she makes whilst logged in would just show up as amendments you have made as it was "you" who has logged in, so wouldn't carry any extra weight as changes coming from a housing official.

If you think you would benefit from her reviewing some of the info. I would do as another suggested and either print off or screen shot the applicable parts blanking out anything you wish to remain private.

Your still entitled to the same level of privacy and online security as everyone else, regardless of your personal circumstances.

lucie8881 · 06/11/2020 13:42

*You're not your 🙄

PanamaPattie · 06/11/2020 13:50

Personal information on a database is password protected for a reason. I wouldn't share any password with anyone. You do not know what she will do with the information once she has access. You don't even know what her job role or title is. It's a no from me.

CakeRequired · 06/11/2020 13:54

This. I'm constantly suprised on here the number of people who don't see issue with this.

I'm not but then I've seen what people's passwords are. The amount of people that use password123 as a password is just embarrassing.

37weekswithno2 · 06/11/2020 13:56

Oldsu because to help the person with the account you either need to be sat there with them looking at the same screen or you need to log in yourself. You can't go into the job centre and talk to a person of behalf of someone any more (that's been the case long before covid)

^ what she said

A lot of our service users are completely computer illiterate or don't have access to the internet. The dwp don't care and expect them to still log in to update circumstances or read messages on their journal. Part of our service is assisting people with keeping their claim up to date. We can't get access to their account without their log in details.

Aroaringfire · 06/11/2020 14:07

@lucie8881 oh my sweet, summer child....

DWP and housing don't provide any access to support workers because the whole system is based on the assumption that everyone should be able to use it and that there wouldn't be a need for support workers.
The reality is there are huge swathes of the population who aren't confident with form filling (whether paper or online), don't have broadband, aren't computer literate and who feel lost at the complexities of our supposedly accessible benefits system. That's why many people freely give away their passwords because they would much much rather a support worker logs in on their behalf and then talks it through with them.

I'm not saying it's good that it happens but it's the reality of it.

lucie8881 · 06/11/2020 14:45

@Aroaringfire sorry, I probably didn't explain myself very well.

It's unclear from the OP exactly what the role of this housing type officer is, and in exactly what capacity they would be assisting the OP.

There are plenty people who require assistance navigating online systems, but there will still need to be rules and guidance in place to protect information and maintain confidentiality.

I was assuming this person was offering assistance to add their professional weight to the application as oppose to the OP requiring help actually accessing the system and filling the form correctly.

CecilyP · 06/11/2020 15:16

No she shouldn’t ask for your log in details. If she has information to support your claim, she should send that separately.

GlowingOrb · 06/11/2020 15:24

Never give your password away.
It would be fine to log in yourself and let her check it, but if she logs in as you, you are personally responsible for anything she does in your account.

Oldsu · 06/11/2020 22:24

@37weekswithno2

Oldsu because to help the person with the account you either need to be sat there with them looking at the same screen or you need to log in yourself. You can't go into the job centre and talk to a person of behalf of someone any more (that's been the case long before covid)

^ what she said

A lot of our service users are completely computer illiterate or don't have access to the internet. The dwp don't care and expect them to still log in to update circumstances or read messages on their journal. Part of our service is assisting people with keeping their claim up to date. We can't get access to their account without their log in details.

And do you explain that to your clients so they understand and are comfortable with what is happening? it seems like the OP was asked to give her details without any type of explanation
Madwife123 · 06/11/2020 23:05

@37weekswithno2

Well what's her role and what organisation is she from

I work for a charity that assists people with universal credit and during lockdown we've been helping people over the phone. If they want to update something on their account then they have to give us their log in details or we can't help them.
If you don't trust her or don't want her help then don't give her the details but it sounds like she's just trying to help you.

This really isn’t ok though. I understand the systems and processes make it hard but that needs flagging up. Asking vulnerable people to give out passwords over the phone places them at higher risk of doing the same when it comes to a scammer.

It also puts you in a very dodgy place legally. If you fill out a claim form and commit benefit fraud on behalf of someone based on information they have given you, but you can’t verify, who is legally responsible for that?

CSIblonde · 06/11/2020 23:10

God, no. Her remit would be to write a supporting letter outlining your situation & adding her confirmation that you have needs Housing should meet. My Dr wrote me one at his instigation, not mine & his vile receptionist tried to charge me £17. She got told to wind her neck in when I told him.

crowsfeet57 · 06/11/2020 23:11

Please don't be embarrassed at sharing your personal information with the housing people. They just need to know you can afford the rent or whether you will need the support of Housing Benefit

Dependent on area, there are also financial criteria to satisfy in order to get on the housing register. Most areas will not accept applicants who can afford to buy or to rent privately.

ImFree2doasiwant · 06/11/2020 23:14

OP I'm a housing officer. Our online application is cumbersome at best. Lots of our applicants require assistance with the form. If you actually need help I'd let her help.you.

If your application is "live" and correctly assessed I wouldn't bother.

Facefullofcake · 06/11/2020 23:17

My local council have a "gateway" system, that support and housing workers can access - I needed to give my support worker consent to do this, but have never ever been asked for my password by anyone.

Thighdentitycrisis · 06/11/2020 23:25

This just goes to highlight the problem in the system that gives no other options to the public than to create a account log on and do it online

Not you OP as clearly you can use a computer, but so many people cannot and may not even be literate in English let alone in computers.

Unless they have someone to help them, and often people are isolated and rely on support workers they are effectively excluded from accessing services

I still don’t think it’s right though