omg is this really what happens

diaryofabenefitscrounger.bl...

[Eule]

Thanks for the info Lally, now I am worried. What is there to stop the people who open our most private post to pass on this info to others???

This is definitely a very frightening though.

Gentle angel hugs

Barbara XXXXX

[Hidden]

it was posted on fb , its really thanks to Helen

[Ang01]

This is dreadful and not something I was aware of, its bad enough having to do into details about your personal life to start with let alone know that any old Tom, Dick and Harry have access to the info. I found it most degrading talking to non medical professionals in addition to a doctor at the ATOS tribunals and having to share very personal information but at least I hoped they were being professional in their work and this info wouldn't go any further. Now it seems that as anyone could have access to our information it is very frightening. About time the system had a major overhall me thinks!! x

[ginge]

well shocked not the word......but this union there talking about i think is the best idea ive heard for yrs............union for the sick and disabled......brilliant

[Eule]

Hey guy's, I've just spoken to my daughter who assures me that the people who open post for Government dept's are CRB checked and can not for instance have a criminal record. Also if you think about it, there are so many people who have access to our most private information like Dr receptionists, the people who work for the DLA or Jobcentre plus, which means all of those people are not CRB checked so I guess there is no stopping them using our info or having a good giggle about our problems ;-( xx

[Hidden]

I just read it.

I dont care if it is the civil servants or plain old posties, the idea that anyone else apart from the people who are supposed to seeing all my private details is enough to make me boil over.

How long does it take some of us to fill these in and to think anyone can see it.

I am sure it must be a breach of data act or something.

[Eule in reply to Hidden]

Unfortunately it's not huni ;-(

[Hidden]

i think Ill make copies of my dla forms and stick them to every lampost for all to read

[Lima6MCT]

I spotted an "Opened by Royal Mail" type rubber stamp on my husband's ESA 50 when I was going through it earlier this year in preparation for his Tribunal.

When I was writing up the errors and lies of his assessment to go to the Tribunal I added some notes at the end that I wished to be placed in with the Tribunal's report to the DWP. One of those notes was that I considered it was wholly inappropriate that forms of such a confidential medical nature be opened in a Royal Mail sorting office.

All the forms we've ever sent to DWP have been sent by recorded delivery thinking that we would know for certain that if they said it wasn't received we would have evidence it that it was. What worry's me is that if such a claim by DWP were made where would the evidence be that it got any further than the sorting office.

I also informed our MP and our local CAB adviser that this was going on - neither seemed to be aware of it.

[bumblebee57]

I just dont understand why it has to be opened by Royal Mail or anyone else but DWP. Cant DWP staff open envelopes? If you write to "Joe Bloggs" at "4 That Street", isnt that where it would be delivered ? This whole system gets more and more dodgy. We are sick/disabled, NOT STUPID

[Sandy247]

30 years ago when I 1st started to work for the Government [I no longer work for them due to my disability]

I know that when post arrived at DWP offices unopened never did the post go directly to the addressee. It always went to an internal post room and was then opened, sorted and then forwarded to the appropriate person. Up until my date of leaving that was the procedure.

The problem I see is that by letting the post be opened in a Royal Post Office or any other courier office their employees are not subject to the Official Secrets Act [OSA] that all Civil Servants are. I think that it is disgusting and immoral but I do not think that it is illegal. I would hope that they would have a group of employees who specialise in the opening of DWP post and who are subject to the OSA just as the rest of those people who will be handling the form once it arrives at DWP.

I can only speculate that the post is opened before reaching DWP as it is cheaper for Royal Mail/other postal service to do this job as they are already handling that piece of post. You can guarantee that cost and nothing else, is the reason that non-DWP staff are having sight of your application forms before DWP staff.