Royal Mail has launched its certified identity service that connects to the GOV.UKVerify platform.
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The service is the new, free of charge verification process that enables users to prove who they are online, so that they can access a range of government services – such as viewing your driving licence information, getting a pension statement, or applying for Universal Credit.
When using government online services on GOV.UK, users need to be sure their privacy is protected and their data and identity is secure; while government departments providing the services need to know the user is who they say they are.
As a GOV.UK Verify certified company, Royal Mail will verify the identity of consumers using their name, gender, address and date of birth. Users will also be asked to supply a passport or driver’s licence number to further validate that they are the person they say they are.
These checks may vary, depending on the level of assurance the service requires, but could include counter-fraud checks and activity history.To maximise the prospect of successfully verifying an individual’s identity, Royal Mail will use multiple data providers.
If the information matches, users will be granted a unique online identity, with username and password. The process will be quick, easy and free for consumers.
It will also give people control over their own data, eliminating the need for information about individuals to be stored in one central government database.
There are currently nine digital services¹ available including claiming a tax refund, getting a pension statement, submitting a tax self-assessment and applying for Universal Credit.
A further 15² are expected to roll out over the next 18 months. These include amending a driver record, applying for child maintenance and signing a mortgage deed.
Royal Mail is one of nine certified companies chosen by the GOV.UK Verify to act as an ID service provider.
As the Universal Service provider, Royal Mail is entrusted with the delivery of mail to the UK’s 29 million addresses. The secure management of complex data, in particular the Postcode Address File used for delivery, is at the core of the company’s expertise.
More than 470,000 user identities have now been verified³ through GOV.UK Verify. In the coming years, over 10 million people a year are predicted to use the system. ■