Council contacts 1,900 housing benefit claimants after data released in error

A local authority has contacted 1,900 housing benefit claimants after some of their personal details were mistakenly released in a response to a freedom of information request.

Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council has also reported the error to the police and the Information Commissioner, asking for advice to give to those affected.

The FOI request had asked for information on the number of claimants renting from a private landlord. However, another part of the spreadsheet giving the figures also contained the details used to create it, including names and addresses of those making the claims, the council admitted.

Basingstoke & Deane’s subsequent attempts to contact the requester have so far been unsuccessful.

The authority stressed that it had not released any bank details. It also said it had no reason to suspect that the information had been used for identity fraud or to sell to a marketing agency putting the people at risk of more ‘junk’ mail or sales calls. 

“But as there is a risk, the council has written to all the people affected outlining steps they can take to protect themselves, including an offer to pay for extra monitoring of loans and other payments taken out in their name,” it said, adding that there was a special helpline for affected residents.

Basingstoke & Deane said it would carry out an own internal review of its procedures following the incident. The ICO will also carry out an independent investigation. 

Council Director Laura Taylor said: “I am very sorry that this mistake has happened and for the inconvenience and distress this may cause. We take the security of personal information extremely seriously and we get a high volume of freedom of information requests. We have taken immediate steps to further tighten our procedures and will act on any lessons from the review and investigation. 

“It is likely that the person who got the information was making enquiries to lots of different councils to compare statistics and will not even realise that they have the personal information, but we cannot be 100% certain. I do not want to worry people unnecessarily but felt that it was only right that we let the people affected know what has happened and give them advice on what they can do to protect themselves with our help.”