New universal credit claimants can now verify their identity through Government Gateway

DWP says using that this method will help speed up the claim process for those who have used the Gateway in the last 12 months

New universal credit claimants can now verify their identity through Government Gateway, the DWP has announced.

Having received more than 1.4 million claims since 16 March 2020 as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the DWP says -

'People applying for universal credit will now be able to use their existing Government Gateway account to confirm their identity, helping to speed up their claim.

The move is expected to help thousands of claimants applying for the benefit and will be available to those who have used the Government Gateway in the last 12 months to access their Personal Tax Accounts, including to check their tax credits, send a personal tax return, or check their state pension.'

The DWP also confirms that people applying for benefit can continue to confirm their identity using gov.uk verify

For more information see Universal Credit claimants to verify identity through Government Gateway from gov.uk