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<p>Under Universal Credit, the online digital account is fundamental to the design,
which allows claimants access to all their personal, medical, financial and other
data. As a result, the claimant ‘holds the key’ to that account at all times. Running
a system of implied consent in Universal Credit means that the risk of disclosure
of this material to third parties is heightened beyond an acceptable level under the
data protection rules and might also undermine some of the other security features
we build into the system through personal accreditation.</p><p> </p><p>A claimant
can, however, give explicit consent for an adviser or other third party to talk to
the Department about their Universal Credit claim via their journal, over the phone
or in person, when accompanied by their adviser, and can state what information can
be shared, with whom and for what purpose. Alternatively, if a personal appointee
is appropriate, the claimant or appointee can raise this at the initial claim stage
and we can arrange a home visit to verify the appointee, which will enable them to
manage the account for the claimant.</p><p> </p><p>We continuously review the service
for vulnerable people who claim Universal Credit to ensure that it is accessible and
responsive to their needs.</p>
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