Posting ESA50 - worrying news if true

Hello everyone,

I have to return my ESA50 at the end of the month and on my various searches on the internet for as much advice as possible on filling this damn form in I found the following story, which if it is true is rather worrying.

Another person who had to fill out ESA50 made a Freedom of Information application to Royal Mail, and it seems that when we return our forms in the prepaid envelope these envelopes are actually going to a Royal Mail sorting office where they are being opened by Royal Mail workers who then place them into relevant piles and forward them on somewhere else.

If true surely this is breaking the Data Protection Act? I certainly don't want someone who works for Royal Mail having all of my details and that of my medical complaints.

Does anyone on this form know if this is true and if so just how safe is our privacy?

Thank you.

Hi im going through the same thing at the moment and have found out the same information on further investigation it appears that the DWP have a special contract with the Royal Mail.
Aparently it is part of the declaration we sign on the form where details can be shared with organisations that provide a service its a bit of a streatch but they can say its legal. IMHO they should open the mail themselves

This seems totaly horrific and hopefully not true, I posted my dla renewal on Saturday having carefully photocopied everything and then paid extra for guaranteed signed for next day delivery nearly £7.00 !!so that the form would arrive by tomorrow the latest, this would not be the case if it were sitting in a sorting office somewhere and yes like you many pieces of very personal medical info, bank details and of course the NI number. I don't see how under the data protection act this would be allowed and if it were then I will be the first to shout.

Thanks for your comments David and hassled mum. I think none of us would sign the declaration were we to know the DWP are putting us at risk of identity theft etc by allowing Royal Mail workers to open our correspondence.

As someone who had £4,000 worth of credit card fraud carried out by someone who intercepted my credit card at my local sorting office, I have very little confidence in Royal Mail workers.

Could the moderators of this forum, who I assume have legal knowledge, shed some light on this troubling matter please.

Thanks again.

k9feline wrote:

Thanks for your comments David and hassled mum. I think none of us would sign the declaration were we to know the DWP are putting us at risk of identity theft etc by allowing Royal Mail workers to open our correspondence.

As someone who had £4,000 worth of credit card fraud carried out by someone who intercepted my credit card at my local sorting office, I have very little confidence in Royal Mail workers.

Could the moderators of this forum, who I assume have legal knowledge, shed some light on this troubling matter please.

Thanks again.

Hi, as Moderators we can only advise on relevant benefit queries.

We cannot give legal advice, however see information on Data Protection here. :

www.ico.gov.uk/

I should imagine, but can't be sure, that any company, including Royal Mail, who were contracted to open and sort mail for the DWP or ATOS would have to ensure that their employees complied with The Data Protection Act.

cheers

bro58

Royal Mail have been opening/sorting DWP mail for quite a few years. In the sorting offices they have a seperate area from the other mail, a very small number of staff open the mail.