Post Office wins contract for in-person identity checks for accessing GOV.UK services

The Post Office has secured a new government contract for in-person identity checks, adding to its portfolio of identity products and services available digitally or in branch.

The new contract with Government Digital Service (GDS) will involve postmasters and their teams providing an identity check for people who need additional support to use GOV.UK One Login – those unable to use the app or browser journey for identity verification – so that they can access central government services.   

GOV.UK One Login is already live with 22 services and has been used by over 2.19 million to prove their identity. It will replace hundreds of logins across existing services, so users only have to input information to prove their identity once.     

The face-to-face service, which will be available soon for public use, will ensure that people can verify their identity when accessing public services. Around 1,000 post offices will provide this in-person identity check for people wanting to confirm their identity in order to use GOV.UK One Login.

“We are delighted to be extending our successful relationship with government in the identity services field,” Nick Read, Post Office chief executive, said.

“Postmasters provide a trusted and reassuring face-to-face service for millions of people each week, and this combined with our physical presence and long history of successfully enabling people to prove their identity, were all key to us securing this important new contract. This will generate additional revenue and footfall for those branches that provide a full range of identity checks.”

Elinor Hull, identity services director, said: “This contract reinforces that Post Office is the place for face-to-face identity verification in the UK. We will always remain committed to the principle that no one should be left behind in an increasingly digital world. Ensuring we support people and businesses with their identity requirements, whether via our EasyID app, online or in-branch means we are the one stop shop for identity services.”

This new contract follows the Post Office, and its partner Yoti, becoming the first certified identity services provider in the UK last June. This has enabled people to digitally prove their Right to Work and their Right to Rent or complete their Disclosure and Barring Service application.