Rebecca
Perhaps there is a conflict of terminology and the Benefits Agency is trying
to clarify matters. When you say the student has "interrupted" his course,
could this be interpreted as "withdrawn temporarily"? I think it is a
mistake to start assuming the student is up to no good simply because the
Benefits Agency is asking (probably routinely) for confirmation of a
claimant's status.
The BA do indeed have statutory information gathering powers, contained in
the Social Security Administration Act 1992 and the Social Security
Administration (Fraud) Act 1997, but they usually cite these powers if they
are using them. I think what you are dealing with is a standard
confirmation request arising from a claimant who will have completed an
application form which authorises the BA to contact former employers, etc,
to confirm the information the claimant has provided.
Your best course of action is to contact the BA asking for either evidence
that the student has authorised their request, or else details of
the statutory powers they are using.
Stuart Lynch
Stuart Lynch Consulting
Training/Consultancy in
Privacy/Information Protection
01704 870365
mailto:[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Rebecca Hughes
Sent: 16 January 2002 15:17
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject:
A student has interrupted his course from University, but has told the
Benefits Agency that he has withdrawn. The Benefits Agency have
contacted us for confirmation that the student has withdrawn. Can we
correct their records without telling the student? Surely, yes as long
as we are not processing sensitive data.
Any advice gratefully received!
Rebecca
-------------------
Rebecca Hughes
Administrative Officer (Data protection)
[log in to unmask]
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