Extension of #1595985

Summary

The requester asked for benefit claim figures as of 31 March 2021 to extend a previous request covering 2015-2020. The Treasury responded by providing the specific number of claims in payment for various benefit types as of that date.

Key Facts

• The request was an extension of FOI case #1595985 regarding benefit claims data.
• The Treasury provided data for 31 March 2021 after initially noting it might not be immediately available.
• Short-term incapacity benefit figures represent an average for the 2020/2021 financial year due to erratic caseloads.
• Jobseeker's allowance awards increased significantly due to the impact of a recent circuit breaker on the local economy.
• The request was formally closed on 14 April 2021.

Data Disclosed

• 31 March 2021
• 1,705
• 611
• 2,898
• 1,289
• 2,328
• 309
• 685
• 2020/2021
• 14 April 2021
• 30 March 2021

Original Request

FOI request #1595985 requested data on benefit claims in payment over the last few years as at 31 March 2015/2016/2017/2018/2019/2020. Could you please provide the equivalent figures for 31 March 2021? If the data for 31 March 2021 is not immediately available, I am happy to wait for a response to this FOI request until the data for 31 March 2021 becomes available.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

The Treasury

Yn Tashtey

Date: 14 April 2021

Dear xx,

I write further to your request which was received on 30 March 2021 in which you request the following -

FOI request #1595985 requested data on benefit claims in payment over the last few years as at 31 March 2015/2016/2017/2018/2019/2020.

Could you please provide the equivalent figures for 31 March 2021?

I can now provide the figures as at 31 March 2021, as follows -

Benefit Type No. of claims in payment as at 31st March 2021 Incapacity Benefit-Long Term 1,705 Incapacity Benefit-Short Term (see note below)1 611 Disability Living Allowance 2,898 Income Support-Pensioners 1,289 Income Support-Working Age 2,328 Jobseekers Allowance-Contribution Based2 309 Jobseekers Allowance-Income Based2 685

Notes: 1. The short-term incapacity benefit caseload is erratic. Therefore the average caseload for the 2020/2021 financial year is provided. 2. The number of awards of jobseeker’s allowance is significantly increased compared to recent years on account of the impact of the most recent circuit breaker on the local economy and businesses. Freedom of Information Seyrsnys Fysseree

The Treasury Government Office,
Douglas Isle of Man,
British Isles IM1 3PU

Our ref. 1731221

xx

Please quote the reference number 1731221 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely,

xx