Sunday, May 09, 2010

Declan calls for Department for Work and Pensions evidence

In the previous blog “Department for Work and Pensions rewrites our history”, I provided a link to a letter Declan received from the DWP on Thursday informing us that we weren't forced to live rough on the streets of London for more than 2 1/2 years because Declan failed to “sign on” TWO DAYS BEFORE he was due to do so on 29 September 2006 (the letter of termination is archived here), but because he failed to attend an appointment on 19 September 2006. Well, now the DWP will either have to fabricate evidence and/or breach the Data Protection Act 1998. Tomorrow, Declan will send the following request under the Act to Jobcentre Plus Chief Executive Darra Singh:


Dear Mr Singh

Data Protection Act 1998, Subject Access Request

I am writing to you as the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus (JCP), an executive agency of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Please find enclosed a copy of a letter dated 5 May 2010 signed by JCP IT Director David Chapman on your behalf, stating:


We have no record of closing your claim on 27 September 2006 but we did close your claim in September 2006 because you missed an appointment on 19 September. If a customer misses an appointment we may close their claim with a one day suspension of benefit.


I hereby make a subject access request under the Data Protection Act 1998 to be supplied with a copy of all personal data held by the data controller in respect of the termination of my joint claim for Jobseeker's Allowance in September 2006.

With reference to the aforementioned letter, I can confirm that I am currently looking for a solicitor or counsel to represent me pro bono, who might be able to tell from your letter whether JCP is acting lawfully (a) by directing me to apply for specific jobs on threat of termination of my benefits, (b) by insisting on my taking a "training course" of the choosing of JCP, and (c) what can be done to prevent recurrence of this form of unfair treatment. Please kindly note:

• My joint claim for Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) was terminated on 27 September 2006 because I did not “sign on” TWO DAYS BEFORE I was due to do so on 29 September 2006.

• My wife and I were forced to live rough on the streets of London for more than 2 1/2 years, from 3 November 2006 to 13 July 2009.

• I exhausted the appeals process from the street, where my case was dismissed by Mr Justice Walker of the High Court (Judicial Review), Lord Justice Scott Baker of the Court of Appeal and three judges of the European Court of Human Rights in spite of the fact that I was denied the internal appeal process by procedural impropriety on the part of the enforcement authority (the DWP).

• My joint claim JSA was not even reinstated until 9 October 2009 – almost three months after we gained access to a roof over our heads – because my wife’s National Insurance number was “lost” from the Department’s computer system.

I note that the Data Protection Act gives significant rights to individuals in respect of personal data held about them by the data controller (the institution). These rights include to take action to rectify, block, erase or destroy inaccurate data. I understand that I can have the Data Protection Commissioner review my subject access request if I am not happy with the reply or not that I have received to this letter within 40 calender days.

Yours sincerely

Declan Heavey