Changes of Circumstances declarations (FOI)

Request

Freedom of Information Request

Separately can you advise 

• how many Changes of Circu​mstances declarations relating to inter dependent relationships have been processed in the past five years.
• how many claims have been audited post notification of change of circumstances.
• number of those claimants being requested to submit 12 months’ bank statements.
• and what criteria is used to identify what claims should be audited?

Response

1.

The factors which determine the different types of “changes in circumstances” are not recorded in a searchable format as this is not required for business purposes. The data is therefore not held. 

It has been assessed that any information held would be on individual records and the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 does not require a Scheduled Public Authority to manipulate data to provide a response. Article10 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 therefore applies. It is estimated that to interrogate these records would far exceed the time limits prescribed under Regulation therefore Article 16 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has also been applied.

2.

The department does not hold the total number of claims audited after a change has been applied in a searchable format as this is not required for business purposes. The data is therefore not held.

It has been assessed that any information held would be on individual records and the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 does not require a Scheduled Public Authority to manipulate data to provide a response. Article10 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 therefore applies. It is estimated that to interrogate these records would far exceed the time limits prescribed under Regulation therefore Article 16 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has also been applied.

3. 

Under Article 7 & 8 of the Income Support (General Provisions) (Jersey) Order 2008 determining officers acting on behalf of the Minister for Social Security, may request all relevant information to make a decision relating to any change of circumstances which have been submitted by a claimant.  The department does not collate data regarding what evidence, including bank statements have been requested in relation to individual changes of circumstances. 

It has been assessed that any information held would be on individual records and the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 does not require a Scheduled Public Authority to manipulate data to provide a response. Article 10 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 therefore applies.  It is estimated that to interrogate these records would far exceed the time limits prescribed under Regulation therefore Article 16 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has also been applied.

4.

Claims are audited on a daily basis to develop all Advisors’ skills and knowledge as well as checking claims that generate overpayment or underpayments, and all changes made by newly trained Advisors

Articles applied

Article 10 - Obligation of scheduled public authority to confirm or deny holding Information

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), if –

(a) a person makes a request for information to a scheduled public authority; and

(b) the authority does not hold the information, it must inform the applicant accordingly.

Article 16 - A scheduled public authority may refuse to supply information if cost excessive

(1) A scheduled public authority that has been requested to supply information may refuse to supply the information if it estimates that the cost of doing so would exceed an amount determined in the manner prescribed by Regulations. ​