what info can welfare/government bodies access through your pps no?

rock_chic

Hi

I'm just wondering what information can government bodies for eg Social welfare access just via your PPS No?

Can you they look you up and see your wages or that you've purchased a property?

Thanks

Kristopherus

Your PPSN is issued to you to enable you access public services. It would be logical to assume that whatever info you give to a public body, will be available to other bodies, i.e Welfare, Revenue, Banks, etc.. Subject of course to any constraints of the Data Protection Act.

Losty Dublin

rock_chic wrote: »

Hi

I'm just wondering what information can government bodies for eg Social welfare access just via your PPS No?

Can you they look you up and see your wages or that you've purchased a property?

Thanks

In short they can only use your PPS number to access information that is relevant to them in the line of their duties. Say, a staff member working for the Passport Office or Driving Licence applications may require it to verify you and your dealings with that office but it will not access them your PRSI or tax returns or any other dealings you have with other department. Equally Revenue won't know if you have a passport or driving licence based alone on your PPS number. Even internal staff in a section within a department may not be able to access information that isn't job specific, or if they have access they may not know how to obtain it.

If you have a specific query relating to a specific department then perhaps you should contact them and ask them something more detailed that relates to you and your dealings with them.

conorh91

rock_chic wrote: »

Can you they look you up and see your wages or that you've purchased a property?

Yes, so long as the Department require this information for a "relevant purpose" (e.g. for the purposes of determining entitlement, as per s. 31 of the Social Welfare Act 1988 (as amended) and s.223C of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 1993 (heavily amended))

The broad and automatic nature of sharing of information has been the subject of surprisingly scarce debate.

I have heard experts in Data Protection law claim to be surprised at civil liberties groups and the media who seem to passively accept such data sharing without complaint. Personally, I'm surprised that anyone is surprised at the drowsy inaction of the Irish media on any topic.

Manach

As conor91 said. There are numerous exceptions to data privacy in the current EU directive. This has been broadly interpreted to allow state authorities which relate to tax gathering to override privacy protections. That was in essence a response I received from the DPC a while back.
Perhaps the new EU Directive might tighten up on this.

fiachr_a

Your name, address, date of birth, maiden name, mother's maiden name, marital status, phone number, partner's name, kids' names, wages, employer's name and address, bank details, and any money you owe the Government department.

rock_chic

thanks for the replies!