Tina M

I have signed up to the forum for the sole purpose of adding myself to the list of frustrated people excluded from registering for the Government Gateway. I am a 56-year-old British citizen born and living here. Though now not working due to ill health, I paid tax and NI all my working life. I am a property owner. I am nevertheless unable to prove my identity for the purposes of the Government Gateway. I don't have a driving licence, as I've never learned to drive. And anyway, I gather it can only be an N.I. one. I don't have a current passport, as I'm ill and no longer travel. I thought an expired one might possibly suffice, as after all, it IS still me, and has been accepted as proof by other entities. But no. I don't have a P60, because I'm not working. I probably COULD answer some credit reference questions, as I do have financial products, but that on its own is not enough, as you have to pick two methods. I have nothing to offer as my second method. It's my understanding that there used to be a system called Verify available through post offices, but I only learnt of this facility AFTER it had already been retired without replacement, so now I am completely stymied. When I first realised this, I thought I must have misunderstood, as the Government couldn't be advocating use of a system that's impossible for some of the population to sign-up to, could they? But it seems the joke's on me, because although it's not the law that you have to have ANY of these pieces of ID, you'll be condemned to pen, paper and snail-mail forever if you don't.