First test of identity authentication platform for a local government service set to begin on 3 March
The first trial of GOV.UK Verify for the renewal of Blue Badge parking permits is set to begin next month in Warwickshire.
The county council is planning a three-month pilot using the platform – developed by the Government Digital Service (GDS) – for residents to prove their eligibility online for obtaining and renewing the badges for disabled users online.
It will save them from having to physically bring, scan or post any documents in person to prove their identity.
Warwickshire and GDS have been working on the project since last June, building the infrastructure enabling Verify to be used as the identity assurance platform for the service.
More than 700 people are taking part, according to the latest blogpost from the Verify team.
They will be asked to register on the platform and, when it has authenticated their identity, use central government benefits information to confirm their eligibility.
Expected benefits
The blog says that online eligibility assessment will offer an improved service that better safeguards privacy and saves time and effort for the users. It will also save costs, reduce processing time and the potential for fraud.
It also provides an update on progress and says that the Warwickshire collaboration has uncovered important lessons on improving accessibility and the relevance of the technical onboarding guide to councils.
GDS is also planning two pilots for using Verify in local government services: issuing passes for older people’s concessionary travel, and issuing residents' parking permits.
It says it will evaluate and publish the results in due course.
