Anger as benefit forms go astray

The parcel included claims for pensions credits

Personal details about nearly 100 benefit claimants have been wrongly sent to a couple in Cornwall.

The package should have been taken from offices of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in Cheshire to a government centre in Yorkshire.

But the parcel containing names, addresses and National Insurance numbers was delivered to a couple in Bodmin, who said they were shocked.

Courier company TNT has apologised, blaming human error.

It's extremely troubling. The information is privileged and is confidential to the claimants Solicitor Mark Ellis

The couple who did not want to be named, said the package was delivered with another they were expecting.

The data included applications for pension credits and changes in personal circumstances.

There were also letters from Citizens Advice Bureau staff, benefits advisors and solicitors.

One of the couple said: "It was so bad. We have gone through papers like these for our parents and they would be devastated if they had ended up on someone's kitchen table."

Solicitor Mark Ellis, from Liverpool, said he was "amazed" to hear that among the papers were some from his law firm.

He said: "It's extremely troubling. The information is privileged and is confidential to the claimants.

"I'm sure they would be flabbergasted."

A TNT spokesman said: "It's hands up time."

He said the parcel which the Bodmin couple had expected was sent from its Liverpool centre. A member of staff then wrongly put the same address on the DWP package.

The DWP said an investigation was under way. It said the security of individuals' data was taken extremely seriously.