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Comment by mytailorisrich | Hacker News Reader

If you have an address, you have a proof of address. Digital IDs won't magically prove your address, and I don't think there plan is to include addresses. But if Dìgital IDs include address then you'll have to prove your address to the Digital ID first exactly like you prove your address now: with documents.

Regarding right to work (you are changing topic): if you are a citizen you can show your passport, if you don't have a passport because you don't want one you can show your birth certificate. If you are not a citizen you show your passport and provide a share code. It is simple and there are no "excessive requirements".

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> If you have an address, you have a proof of address

No! This is another one of those things that ends up being a serious problem for a few people, because the current proof of address standard is "utility bill".

> you are changing topic

This seems to be particularly bad in the "digital ID" discussion, almost every speaker including official sources seems to mean something slightly different by this phrase.

> because the current proof of address standard is "utility bill".

Because utility bills are the simplest. Obviously you can show a tenancy or lodger agreement, or letters from "official sources".

If you have nothing then Digital IDs won't help you anyway because, if they do include address, you will also need to start by providing a proof of address to the Digital ID system!

Most tenancy agreements are just printed off by a landlord, so they're absolutely useless as proof of address.

> if they do include address, you will also need to start by providing a proof of address to the Digital ID system!

Yes, you're correct, however, there are starting points (like what's needed for a passport application). The difference is that, if there's a legal requirement to have one, then the government will provide ways for more people to get it for no cost. Unlike a passport that costs over £100 (+ the photos).

>If you have nothing then Digital IDs won't help you anyway because, if they do include address, you will also need to start by providing a proof of address to the Digital ID system!

The way it works where it works -- you register with municipality and then whenever you need something, they either give a letter with your address (and maybe charge 25 bucks for it) or the agency gets it from the registry maintained by municipality on the need to know basis.

Since the need-to-know basis is set by law, your explicit consent isn't asked for.

You just need something with you name and address. Bank statements, council tax, driver license (it doesn't even need to be a full one). It doesn't need to be a utility bill, it just often is one.

If you do not have a permanent address (I didn't for many years). You just need someone with a permanent address where these things can go e.g. friend or family member or you can pay a small amount for a letter box with a key (which is what I did).

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