DWP to announce identity assurance suppliers

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is to announce the first suppliers in the government’s identity assurance (IDA) scheme at the end of October.

The IDA scheme is intended to provide UK citizens with a choice of providers to verify who they are to access public services online.

In February, the DWP issued a contract notice for a £25m framework agreement to support the roll out of the department’s Universal Credit system and provide identity assurance services for Universal Credit customers.

The first phase, with the DWP announcing which providers will be part of the framework, is set to kick off later this month, Chris Ferguson, deputy director, Cabinet Office, identity assurance programme, told attendees of RSA Conference Europe 2012 in London.

“Any organisation from any sector can be an identity provider as long as they meet the criteria set out by government,” he said. There is a security and certification process to ensure standards are met and maintained.

The first set of identity providers are expected to provide working versions of their services next year for the roll out of Universal Credit. The Post Office is known to be one of the organisations interested in becoming an IDA provider.