UK to pay citizens £550 to join digital ID panel
Key Points
- The UK government is offering members of the public £550 each plus expenses to join a 120-person 'People's Panel' to help shape the proposed national digital ID system
- Participants, selected randomly via civic lottery from 36,000 households, will attend two full weekend workshops in Birmingham and three evening Zoom sessions as part of a consultation running until 5 May 2026
- The panel aims for a representative mix of views with no prior knowledge required; total cost estimated at £630,000, facilitated by Ipsos and the Sortition Foundation
- Digital ID would be optional, stored in a GOV.UK wallet, and focused on making government services quicker, easier, and more secure
- Journalists, politicians, party staff and their families are barred from participating; the initiative seeks to build trust after past public backlash over privacy concerns
The UK is offering members of the public £550 each, plus expenses, to participate in a special ‘people’s panel’ that will help shape the country’s proposed national digital ID system.
The initiative forms part of a broader public consultation on digital identity launched by the Cabinet Office in March 2026.
The consultation runs until 5 May 2026 and seeks input on how a digital ID could make accessing government services quicker, easier, and more secure.
Up to 120 participants will be selected through a random civic lottery process from around 36,000 invitation letters sent to households across the UK. The panel aims to create a broadly representative sample of the population to discuss the proposals in depth.
Selected members will attend:
- Two full weekend workshops in Birmingham
- Three evening Zoom sessions
Participants will hear from experts, ministers, and officials, debate trade-offs, and produce recommendations for the government.
No prior knowledge of digital ID is required as the government is explicitly looking for a mix of views, both positive and negative.
The total estimated cost of running the People’s Panel is around £630,000. Ipsos is facilitating the workshops, while the Sortition Foundation handles the independent random selection.
Notably, journalists, media workers, elected representatives, political party staff, and their close relatives are explicitly barred from participating.
The government will cover travel, accommodation, meals, and care costs. Payments may be made in cash, vouchers, or a combination, though participants are warned that cash could affect tax or benefits.
The UK has been exploring digital identity options for almost two decades, with the current push framed around improving public services rather than creating mandatory ID cards.
The digital ID would be optional and stored in a GOV.UK wallet, building on existing identity verification systems.
The move comes after earlier proposals faced significant public backlash, including a petition that gathered nearly three million signatures.
Critics have raised concerns about privacy, surveillance, and potential mission creep, while supporters argue it could reduce bureaucracy and tackle issues like illegal working more effectively.
The People’s Panel has been positioned as a way to build public trust through deeper engagement beyond a standard online survey.
