Cabinet Office minister says identity assurance platform has passed service assessment
GOV.UK Verify, the central government platform for online identity assurance, is set to go live next Tuesday following the completion of its service assessment.
Cabinet Office Minister Matt Hancock announced move during a speech at an event staged by innovation charity Nesta, saying it will make a major contribution to privacy and cyber security in the use of online services.
“Verify allows secure and straightforward identity checking without the need for an identity database - and underpins the digital transformation of government. I want to thank the Verify team for their innovative, determined and dedicated work,” Hancock said.
Developed by the Government Digital Service (GDS), it provides a mechanism for individuals to prove they are who they claim to be when transacting with government online. One of eight certified companies carries out the original authentication of their identity, then provides the confirmation to a service provider through a central hub when requested.
10 starters
The Cabinet Office has indicated that 10 central government services, which have been using it in beta form, will take it to live next week:
- Check your income tax for the current year (HM Revenue & Customs).
- Get a state pension statement (Department for Work and Pensions).
- Sign in to personal tax account (HMRC).
- View or share driving licence information (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Service).
- Apply for Universal Credit (DWP).
- Claim for redundancy and monies owed (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills).
- Sign in and file self-assessment tax return (HMRC).
- Update rural payment details (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
- Help friends or family with their tax (HMRC).
- Check or update company car tax (HMRC).
Janet Hughes, the programme director for Verify, recently indicated in a blogpost that going live would not be a dramatic change, but that “it's part of an ongoing gradual process of developing and scaling up the service”.
She said that about 20 central government services are expected to connect to the platform this year, with more to follow further on.
Image from GOV.UK, Open Government Licence v3.0
