Data Protection – requesting information we hold about you

The Data Protection Act 1998 gives you the right to know what information is held about you.

Our Privacy Policy explains how the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will use and protect any information we collect about you.

• Privacy policy

You are entitled to a copy of information held about you by DWP.

• More information about the Data Protection Act 1998 from the Information Commissioner’s Office

How to request a copy of information held about you

If you would like a copy of personal information held about you by DWP, please send or take your request in writing to your nearest DWP office (usually a Jobcentre Plus office). Please do not send your request by email.

• Use the request for personal information form (94KB) RTF

Or write and tell us your:

• Full name
• Full address
• Date of birth
• National Insurance Number
• A description of the information you require (for example Jobseekers Allowance records).

You will not be charged for this service.

• Find your nearest DWP office

Timescale for response

The Data Protection Act allows DWP 40 calendar days to provide you with your personal information. This starts from the date we receive your request containing enough information for us to identify you and locate your information.

However, we do try to provide this information as soon as possible within this timescale.

Requesting information on behalf of a third party

If you are requesting information on behalf of someone else, you must provide that person’s written, signed consent using the DWP consent form, unless you are an official appointee or have Power of Attorney for that person.

This includes requests from solicitors for information about a customer, for example in personal injury cases.

• DWP consent form – requesting personal information about someone else (181KB) RTF

Part E of the form must be completed by the person whose information you are asking for. No other form of consent will be accepted by DWP.

Please send or take your request to your nearest DWP office (usually a Jobcentre Plus office). Please do not send your request by email.

You will not be charged for this service.

• Find your nearest DWP office

Understanding the information we send you

The following guides will help you to understand any abbreviations or other terms that may appear in the information we send you:

• DWP corporate abbreviations (96KB)
• Carer’s Allowance abbreviations (40KB)
• Disability and Carer’s Service abbreviations (125KB)
• Labour Market System – a guide to your Data Protection Act print-out (1.7MB)
• Customer Information System – an explanation of the information held about you (387KB)