Number of applications for ministerial discretion payments (FOI)

​​​Request

A.

The total number of applications made during the calendar year 2014 for Ministerial discretion payments in exceptional circumstances under article 8(2) and (3) of the Income Support (Jersey) Law 2007.

B.

Out of the total number of applications made for Ministerial discretion payments during the calendar year 2014, as requested above in (A), how many of these applications resulted in an exceptional payment being made and for what type of exceptional circumstances were the payments made in each individual case?

C.

Out of the total number of applications made for Ministerial discretion payments during the calendar year 2014, as requested above in (A), how many of these applications resulted in no payment being made and for what type of exceptional circumstances were these applications rejected in each individual case?

Response

Applications made for exceptional circumstances by their very nature often include specific details that may allow individuals to be identified or identity assumed. Therefore to protect applicants’ privacy this personal data is exempt under Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, detailed below. The information is provided below under category type. Unique circumstances may include specific family situation or medical grounds.

A.

42 applications for a Ministerial Discretional Payment were made in 2014.

B.

34 out of the 42 applications made for a Ministerial Discretional Payment resulted in an exceptional payment being made in 2014. The different types are categorized below:

a. Personal Care 10
b. Failed Jobseeker 8
c. Unique Circumstances 8
d. Hospitalisation 6
e. Residency Status 2

C.

8 out of the 42 applications made for a Ministerial Discretional Payment did not result in any exceptional payment being made in 2014. The different types are categorized below:

a. Residency Status 3
b. Failed Jobseeker 3
c. Unique Circumstances 2

Exemption

Exemption: Article 25 Personal Information

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2005.

(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2005; and

(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.