Discretionary Housing Payments Privacy Notice
Who are we and what do we do
Discretionary Housing Payments is part of Gateshead Council. We are based at the Civic Centre, Gateshead. We provide services for calculation and administration of Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs). DHPs are for those in receipt of Housing Benefit or the Housing Cost element within Universal Credit.
This privacy notice provides specific information about how we process your personal data. It is an addition to the information contained in our Corporate privacy notice.
What type of information is collected about you
We collect personal information to understand your needs and provide services. Information may include:
- name
- address
- date of birth
- National Insurance (NI) number
- email address
- telephone number
- earned income details
- benefits and allowances details
- bank account, savings and investment details
- property details
- expenditure details
- rent paid
We may also collect the details of a partner, children and any other adults that live in your household.
How we collect information about you
We collect information about you from various sources to ensure that we meet your needs, including:
online and paper application forms completed by you or someone acting on your behalf
Why we need your information
Our purpose for collecting personal information is to enable us to:
- check your eligibility for discretionary housing payment
- calculate the level of your discretionary housing payment
The lawful basis for our processing is:
- legal obligation to which the data controller is subject
- task in the public interest
Our lawful basis for processing of sensitive personal data is:
employment, social security and social protection (if authorised by law)
reasons of substantial public interest
The legislation the service is obliged to comply with includes:
- Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations 2001
- Discretionary Housing Payment (Grant) Order 2001
- Housing Benefit Regulation 2006 schedule 5
Who your information can be shared with
Our Corporate privacy notice explains information sharing the Council carries out. This sharing fulfils statutory obligations, legal requirements and service delivery.
We may use information from your DHP application to identify other support that may be available to you if we share your information with other internal and external organisations mentioned.
Discretionary Housing Payment may also share your information with:
- other organisations connected to your claim, such as your landlord
- charitable organisations such as Citizens Advice
Our lawful basis for this sharing is consent.
If we wish to share your information with other council services or third parties for purposes outside of those listed above we will ask your permission.
How long we will keep your information
We keep your information for as long as we need to provide services to you. We may also need to keep your information in accordance with legal or other obligations. Where we have no need to keep your data it will be securely destroyed. We keep a Record of Processing Activity (a requirement under the GDPR). This sets out the specific retention periods applicable in different circumstances. For more information please contact: benefitenquiries@gateshead.gov.uk.
Where your information is held
We hold personal information in secure electronic systems on Gateshead council servers.
How you can update your information
Our delivery of efficient services depends on the accuracy of your information.
Please inform us of any changes to the following:
- email address
- personal circumstances
- postal address
- any of the other information we hold
Please contact: benefitenquiries@gateshead.gov.uk.
Your information rights
Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.
Marketing and e-newsletters
Please see our email marketing privacy notice.
Business intelligence, profiling and automated-decision making
Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.
Protecting your information
Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.
Data Protection Officer
Data Protection Officer
Civic Centre
Regent Street
Gateshead
NE8 1HH
0191 433 3000
Information Commissioner's Office
The Information Commissioner is the UK's independent body for upholding information rights. Visit their website (opens new window) to find out more about your rights under Data Protection law, and what to expect from us.
For privacy practices or data protection rights concerns, contact the Information Commissioner's Office:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
0303 123 1113 or 01625 545 745