UK Benefits Help

Last updated: 12 September 2026

Who I am

I am UK Benefits Help, a sole trader business providing practical welfare benefits support. I am the data controller for the personal information you provide to me. This means I decide why and how your information is used.

Contact details:

What information I collect

I collect the following types of personal information:

Information you give me directly:

  • Your name, address, date of birth, and contact details (phone, email, WhatsApp)
  • Information about your benefits claim or enquiry
  • Details about your circumstances that are relevant to your benefits (for example, your housing situation, income, family circumstances, or health conditions)
  • Documents and evidence you share with me (for example, letters from the DWP, payslips, tenancy agreements, medical letters)
  • Information about your communication preferences and language needs

Information I collect automatically:

  • If you use my website, I may collect basic technical information such as your IP address and browser type (see the Cookies section below)

Special category information:
Some of the information you share with me may be special category data under data protection law. This includes information about your health, racial or ethnic origin, or other sensitive details. I only collect this information when it is necessary to help you with your benefits, and I treat it with extra care.

Why I collect your information

I use your personal information for the following purposes:

  • To provide you with welfare benefits support, including helping you complete forms, gather evidence, and understand decisions
  • To communicate with you about your case
  • To keep records of the advice and support I have provided
  • To comply with my legal obligations (for example, tax and accounting requirements)
  • To respond to your enquiries and requests

My lawful basis for using your information

Under UK GDPR, I must have a lawful basis for using your personal information. My lawful bases are:

  • Legitimate interests: I use your information to provide benefits support, which is my business purpose. I have considered your rights and freedoms and believe this use is proportionate and necessary 
  • Consent: Where you have given me clear consent, for example if you agree to me contacting you by WhatsApp or sharing information with a third party
  • Legal obligation: Where I need to keep records for tax or other legal requirements
  • Vital interests: In an emergency, where I need to protect your life or health

For special category data (such as health information), I rely on:

  • Explicit consent: Where you have clearly agreed to me using this information to help you
  • Legal claims: Where the information is necessary to establish, exercise, or defend legal rights 

Who I share your information with

I will only share your personal information with others where it is necessary and lawful to do so. This may include:

  • The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HMRC, or local authorities, where you ask me to help you communicate with them or where it is necessary for your benefits claim
  • Translation or interpretation services, where you need language support
  • Regulated immigration advisers, where your case involves immigration questions and I refer you to them (with your consent)
  • My accountant or bookkeeper, for tax and accounting purposes
  • Legal or regulatory authorities, where required by law

I will never sell your personal information.

International transfers

I do not routinely transfer your personal information outside the UK. If I need to use a service that stores data outside the UK (for example, a translation app or cloud storage provider), I will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place and inform you.

How long I keep your information

I keep your personal information only for as long as necessary. My retention periods are:

  • Benefits case records: Only to fulfil my duties, to allow for any follow-up, complaints, or legal claims, and up to 3 months.
  • Financial records (invoices, payment details): 5 years after the 31 January tax return deadline for the relevant tax year, as required by HMRC for sole traders 
  • Contact details and enquiries that do not proceed: For 12 months, then securely deleted

When I no longer need your information, I will securely delete or destroy it.

Your rights

Under data protection law, you have the following rights:

  • Right to access: You can ask for a copy of the personal information I hold about you
  • Right to rectification: You can ask me to correct inaccurate or incomplete information
  • Right to erasure: You can ask me to delete your information in certain circumstances
  • Right to restrict processing: You can ask me to limit how I use your information
  • Right to data portability: You can ask for your information in a portable format
  • Right to object: You can object to how I use your information
  • Rights relating to automated decision-making: I do not use automated decision-making

To exercise any of these rights, contact me using the details above. I will respond within one month.

How to complain

If you are unhappy with how I have handled your personal information, please contact me first so I can try to resolve your concern.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

  • Website: ico.org.uk
  • Phone: 0303 123 1113
  • Post: Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

Cookies

If my website uses cookies or similar technologies, I will provide a cookie banner and further information about how cookies are used. [If you do not use cookies, you can remove this section or state: “This website does not use cookies.”]

Changes to this privacy notice

I may update this privacy notice from time to time. The date at the top of this page shows when it was last revised. I will inform you of any significant changes.