UK Social Security Records available to relatives ?

[gbrowne]

Is it possible to obtain copies of the Social Security and medical records of a deceased relative if you are their only remaining next of kin ? 

My Great Uncle and Great Aunt died in Buxton, Derbyshire in 1981 and 1991 and there is much speculation about their backgrounds since they travelled widely abroad working for the diplomatic service (but we don't have any exact dates and places yet).

GB.

[LizzieW]

Is it possible to obtain copies of the Social Security and medical records of a deceased relative if you are their only remaining next of kin ? 

I doubt it, many bureaucrats use the spurious "100 year rule" to block all applications. 

Lizzie

[gbrowne]

Hmm, thanks Lizzie,

I wondered if there might be some sort of 'access to information' type request I could make.  Goodness only knows where you would make such a request though.

GB.

[LizzieW]

Have you tried googling their names, something might come up.

[Plummiegirl]

I asked this question some time ago, and was told that these records are not made available to public.  Also I think that once someone has died, the records are only kept for a limited period.

I wanted my g/grandfathers to see exactly who he had worked for.

It is a shame as these records would really give us an insight into how much they earned, who they worked for and how long they continued to work (normally well into old age).

[gbrowne]

Thanks for that.  What a shame.  A resource like that not even available to surviving relatives after the death of the person. 

The government could make a lot of money by selling copies (like BMD certs)

Ah well, another great potential lead bites the dust 

Cheers all,
Geoff.

[stanmapstone]

I understand that  non medical records are  closed for 30 years. and other records are closed for 100 years from the last date.

To access the records of someone who has died you need to apply under the Access to Medical Records Act, 1990. You will only be able to access the records if:

    * you are the next of kin or legal executor
    * you have the permission of the next of kin
    * you have written permission from the deceased person given before they died
You will need to state which records you want to access and if you are taking or intend to take legal action. The same charges apply as under the Data Protection Act.
http://www.patients-association.com/FAQ-Category/8

Stan

[gbrowne]

Hi Stan,

Thanks for that info.  So, since the couple had no children and all their siblings are dead and they were my Great-Aunt and Uncle, would I be counted as next of kin ? 

Also would non-medical records be things like Social Security details ?

This sounds a bit more promising 

Geoff.

[stanmapstone]

I think non-medical records are the ones held by the hospital, such as date of admission and date of discharge.

Stan