With your permission, we would like to link your Understanding Society survey answers with your economic data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
What economic information would be added?
The Department for Work and Pensions keeps records of everybody’s benefit claims and any periods people spend on employment programmes. Understanding Society would like to add these records to the responses you have given to this study.
If you would prefer to read this information in a leaflet, you can download the leaflet Linking your survey data with your economic records (PDF 927KB).
How can linking my data help Understanding Society?
By linking your survey data with data from DWP, there are many research opportunities to explore.
- We can look at how changes in the benefits system affects people’s mental health.
- We can find out who takes up benefits and who doesn’t.
- We can see how benefit changes affect family life.
What are the benefits of me giving consent?
Shorter surveys
If we can link your survey answers to your DWP records, we don’t have to ask you about these in the survey and the interview can be shorter.
Help improve social security services
Linking to DWP data means researchers can look at the benefit structure in the UK. In the future this might help improve the current system.
What will happen if I give permission?
To make the link between DWP records and your survey responses Understanding Society will give the DWP your name, address, sex and date of birth. The DWP will use these details to identify the correct records is holds about you.
The DWP will them send your DWP records to Understanding Society. The DWP will not keep any of the personal information passed on to them.
Understanding Society will add the DWP records to your study responses. Your personal information will be removed before any research is done.
Who will use it?
Like your survey responses, the additional information would be used by professional academic and social policy researchers for non-commercial research and statistics. It will not be used for sales or marketing research. Any sensitive information would only be made available to them under restricted access arrangements which make sure that the information is used responsibly and safely. Names and addresses are never included in the results and no individual can be identified from the research.
The data will not be used to work out whether any individual is claiming benefits they should not be and will not affect any current or future claims for benefits
What does my permission cover?
Information can only be released with your permission. To make the link between DWP records and your survey responses, we would need to pass on personal information to the DWP.
These personal details will only be used to identify your information. Before the DWP send any information back to us, your name and other personal details will be removed. None of your survey answers will be shared with the DWP and your current or future dealings with this organisation will not change.
Like the answers you have given us in the survey, the DWP information will be treated in confidence and in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
How long does my consent last?
We would like to add information relating to your present, past and future circumstances. We are not putting an expiry date to this consent, as we do not know exactly when we will obtain and add this information.
We will remind you regularly of the permissions you have given, and you are free to withdraw your consent at any time. If you do choose to withdraw your consent, we will no longer link your economic records to your survey responses going forward. However, we will retain data which has been previously linked if you gave us permission.
What about data security?
Your survey answers and DWP records will be anonymised and will only be used for research and statistics. We are extremely security conscious and all our systems are password protected and only accessed by a small number of authorised staff.
The information we need to exchange with the government departments and agencies will be sent via secure transfer systems. We follow the most up-to-date security protocols and procedures and are compliant with the standards of the ISO 27001 data security protocols and procedures. Your personal details, such as your name, contact details and date of birth, will be secure at all times.
Are there any risks involved in giving permission?
There are no risks associated with linking your economic records to your survey responses.
Do I have to link my data?
No, linking your data is completely voluntary.
Has the study been reviewed and approved by an Ethics Committee?
Yes, in this case the study has been approved by the NHS Health Research Authority, East of England – Essex Research Ethics Committee, reference: 22/EE/0260.
What if I change my mind?
If you wish to withdraw your permission at any point in the future, please write to us:
FREEPOST RRXX-KEKJ-JGKS
Understanding Society, University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ
Please sign and date your letter.
What if I have concerns?
If you have any concerns about any aspect of the study, or you have a complaint, in the first instance please contact us on Freephone 0800 252 853 or by email contact@understandingsociety.ac.uk. They will pass the information onto the principal investigator of the project, Professor Michaela Benzeval.
If are still concerned, or if you think your complaint has not been addressed to your satisfaction, or you feel that you cannot approach the principal investigator, please contact the departmental Director of Research in the department responsible for this project, Professor Paul Clarke, pclarke@essex.ac.uk.
If you are still not satisfied, please contact the University’s Research Governance and Planning Manager , Mantalena Sotiriadou, ms21994@essex.ac.uk.