Written answers
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Department of Social Protection
Standard Authentication Framework Environment
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the number of forms of proof are needed to verify a person's address as a SAFE registration appointment. [41031/12]
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department of Social Protection has developed, in conjunction with a number of other Government Departments, a rules based standard for establishing and authenticating an individual’s identity for the purposes of access to public services. This programme of work, which is known as the Standard Authentication Framework Environment or SAFE for short, also provided for the introduction of a Public Services Card (PSC) to enable individuals to gain access to public services more efficiently and with a minimum of duplication of effort, while at the same time preserving their privacy to the maximum extent possible. The PSC is designed to replace current insecure cards such as the Social Services Card and the Free Travel Pass.
A PSC is currently issued following a “face-to-face” registration process which involves the capture of an individual’s photograph and signature, the verification of identity and current address as well as the capture of additional data such as answers to security questions to be used in ensuring the future integrity of customers’ data.
Letters which are issuing from the Department to a number of customers in relation to registration for their PSC ask them to bring proof of identity and evidence of current address with them.
The invite letter lists a number of alternative documents that provide acceptable evidence of address including a utility bill in the person’s own name, property lease or tenancy agreement or receipt for payment of the Household Charge. Only one piece of evidence of address per customer is required. The Department has recently clarified that receipt for payment of the Household Charge is not a pre-condition to secure a Social Welfare payment.
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