Checking their identity

1. Check if the Ministry of Social Development has the person requesting information on file.

2. If a file exists, identify the requester by requesting identification and asking questions such as age.

1. Ask for a form of photo identification such as a passport.

Note if you have any doubts about the identity of the requester, do not release the information.

1. If the requester is asking for their own information you can identify them by asking questions and checking the answer from their file.

Note you must ask a minimum of 3 identifying questions.

2. If the requester is asking for someone else's information you must instruct them to make the request in writing. Alternatively, if the requester is another department or company, their request should be made on appropriate letterhead and include the following information:

• their name
• their position
• the information they require
• what authority they are using to ask for the information and
• their contact details

Note if the client is with their agent, we can release the information to the agent if we can identify the client. You must only release the information the client has authorised the agent to get, and only at the time of the conversation, unless the Ministry has recorded the agent has authorised to act.

For more information, see:

• Responding to a request for personal information