Getting a copy of my DWP notes

Over a period of about 6 months I've sent in requests to see my DWP notes (under the Data Protection Act) To be fair, sometimes I added the request to a longer letter but one request was in a letter of its own. The last request was several months ago.

I do not live anywhere near my Job Centre so I can't call in there to make a request which is what is suggested on one DWP web page.

What's the best way to chase this up? Should I write in as a complaint and to whom (my DWP office is Glasgow)? Or should I write to the Information Commissioner who will probably has a lot of these notifications and is unlikely to give it top priority.

My various claims over the years seem to be with different departments and sections such as the old Incapacity Benefit dept, Income Support, DLA, etc. I wonder how they will they collate all this info. Or is the info (including my historic data) now held electronically?

Finni wrote: Over a period of about 6 months I've sent in requests to see my DWP notes (under the Data Protection Act) To be fair, sometimes I added the request to a longer letter but one request was in a letter of its own. The last request was several months ago.

I do not live anywhere near my Job Centre so I can't call in there to make a request which is what is suggested on one DWP web page.

What's the best way to chase this up? Should I write in as a complaint and to whom (my DWP office is Glasgow)? Or should I write to the Information Commissioner who will probably has a lot of these notifications and is unlikely to give it top priority.

My various claims over the years seem to be with different departments and sections such as the old Incapacity Benefit dept, Income Support, DLA, etc. I wonder how they will they collate all this info. Or is the info (including my historic data) now held electronically?

Hi F,

You may have problems obtaining older dormant documentation, as the DWP destroy such documents regularly when it is around 14 months old.

It would be The DWP Data Controller for you area that any Subject Access request should be directed to.

Have you tried actually issuing a SAR Form, if this is sent to your local Benefits Office, with "SAR Data Protection Request" written on the front top left of the envelope, it should be diverted to The Data Controller.

See :

SAR :

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/request-for-personal-information.rtf

From this page :

www.dwp.gov.uk/privacy-policy/data-protection/


If The DWP have failed to comply with previous SARs, you could complain to ICO :

www.ico.org.uk/for_the_public/personal_information

Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

bro58

Here is some guidance on DWP document retention, provided as a result of an FOI request :

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/16691/res...DDR%20Guide.doc.html

bro58