Employment agency asking for details of disability/ DLA

[Sabriel]

DS (22) just went to drop off a bank statement as proof of address at a temp agency. The woman queried his recent DLA payment and started asking questions. She wanted to know what it was for. Transpired she didn't realise it was an in-work benefit and while she was off 'checking with the auditors' what info they needed I told DS that IIRC nobody (but the GP/DWP) has any right to ask what he gets it for and he is not obliged to tell them.

In the end I think they went for something like 'I receive DLA for a condition that does not affect my work' and left it at that. Never come across this before but am I right? He surely doesn't have to declare it to them does he?

what on earth was she doing looking at the details of payments if all she needed was the address, nosy cow! If he'd have taken anything else as proof she'd never have known would she.

Yes I thought that too. I was quite when she started reading it and asking questions.

I cannot believe they questioned him about it. Out of order IMO.

I wonder if in this instance this should be reported to her supervisor. I'm sure that's got to be discrimination, asking him those questions. She wouldn't have questioned any other applicant about details on their bank statement, would she? Especially as it was only to provide proof of address.

She should not have read his bank statement at all, it's a massive breach of privacy. Nosy little bitch!

She's a recruitment agent, not an investigator for MI5 or the IR. Is he also gonna query his XXX subscription, his online grocery bill & his barganaceous car insurance rate? Bloody cheek!

If it happens again then all he has to do is remind her very politely that his personal finances are completely confidential, and that the only part of the document that has any relevance to her agency, is the address at the top of the page.

DLA isn't a benefit you have to declare to employers as it's irrelevant to your tax status.

It's worth making the point that:- My sister's DLA goes into my Mum's account, & has done for about 25 years. Lots of people have DLA payments on their accounts for close relatives, it's often part of the role of the carer iyswim.

The recruitment agent stepped over a thick red line with her questions. If she's not capable of respecting the data protection and confidentiality aspects of her job she's in the worng role. Any self-respecting auditor would have told her to back off, so I'm not buying that BS.

I suspect the 'auditor' told her the same thing because she went from 'you can write down how long you've been claiming and what it's for' to 'it doesn't affect my work' after she'd been to check with them.

I'm just glad I went with him as it caught us both off guard.

I'm just shocked that she even asked him to write down how long he'd been claiming and what it was for!! unbelievable!!