2023/12/20

How To Submit a SAR Request

How Do You Make A Subject Access Request to Get Your Information From The CMS, or the DWP.




What is a SAR or ROAR? Understanding Your Right to Access Information

Have you ever wondered what information an organization holds about you? In the UK, you have the legal right to request this information through a Subject Access Request (SAR), also known as a Right of Access Request (ROAR). Whether you want to know what data the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), or His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) holds about you, this blog post will explain the ins and outs of SARs, how to make a request, and your rights under the Data Protection Act 2018 (GDPR).


What is a Subject Access Request (SAR)?

A Subject Access Request (SAR), or Right of Access Request (ROAR), allows individuals to request access to personal data that organizations hold about them. Under the Data Protection Act 2018, which incorporates GDPR, you have the legal right to obtain this information free of charge within one calendar month.
You can use a SAR to:

- Request all data an organization has about you
- Ask for copies of phone call recordings (note: you must explicitly request these)
- Retrieve data from organizations like CMS, DWP, HMRC, and even schools

In this blog, we’ll focus on how to request your personal information from CMS, DWP, and HMRC using a SAR.



How to Make a SAR for CMS or DWP Information

The easiest way to request your information from DWP or CMS is by submitting a SAR online, which is the fastest method. All CMS requests are handled centrally by the DWP.  Do not go to the CMS and ask for the information as it will delay mattters.  Here's what you need to do:

1. Online Request:  
   

2. Written Request:  
   If you prefer to submit a SAR by mail, you can send a written request to:

   
   Right of Access Requests  
   Mail Handling Site A  
   Wolverhampton  
   WV98 2EF  
   

   Make sure to include the following in your request:
   - Full name
   - Address
   - Date of birth
   - National Insurance number
   - Phone number (if requesting call recordings)

3. Phone Call Recordings:  
   Remember, if you want copies of phone call recordings with DWP or CMS, you must explicitly request them. These will not be sent automatically.

The quickest way to get your information is to make an online request.  If you make a request by other methods, they willl have to write to you to confirm your request which delays matters.

How to Request a SAR from HMRC

If you need information from HMRC, the process is slightly different. You can request your data directly via the official government link:


Simply follow the instructions on the webpage to submit your request.


Tips for Making a SAR

When submitting a SAR, be as clear as possible about the information you're requesting. For example, specify whether you want records from a specific time period or specific types of data, such as CMS records or DWP communications. This will help expedite the process and ensure you receive the correct information.

Redaction

Redaction is the process where they hide other peoples information.  So you will receive pages with text overwritten in black, so it wont be visible.  That is likely to be the other parties data, which you do not have access to.

You wont be provided with another persons data, unless there is a mistake.


FAQs: Common Questions about SARs

Q1: Do I need to contact the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) directly to get my data?  

Ans: No, you don't. CMS is part of DWP, so you request your data through the DWP's online forms.

Q2: Can I ask for my information during a phone call with CMS?  

Ans: While you can inquire during a phone call, it's much faster and more efficient to use the DWP’s online SAR request page. CMS staff are typically unable to submit requests on your behalf, so always submit your SAR via the proper channels.

Q3:  Can I request call recordings under GDPR.

Ans  Yes, but you must state you want call recordings.  If you dont you will get information from the computer file only.


Further Reading

For more detailed information, here are some helpful resources:

Keywords:

- Subject Access Request (SAR)
- Right of Access Request (ROAR)
- CMS Subject Access Request
- DWP data request
- HMRC SAR process
- How to request personal data UK
- GDPR data request UK
- Child Maintenance Service records
- Request DWP phone call recordings
- Data Protection Act SAR


 #SubjectAccessRequest
 #RightOfAccess
 #GDPR
 #CMS
 #DWP
 #HMRC
 #DataProtection
 #RightToAccess
 #PersonalData
 #SARRequest



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