Benefits deductions

AuthorityTreasury
Date received2024-06-18
OutcomeAll information sent
Outcome date2024-07-17
Case ID3924961

Summary

The request sought data on the number of benefit claimants with deductions and the specific reasons for those deductions over the last three financial years. The Treasury disclosed the total number of affected customers and a detailed breakdown of deduction reasons for the years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24.

Key Facts

  • The total number of customers with benefit deductions was 2996 in 2021-22, 2982 in 2022-23, and 2992 in 2023-24.
  • Rent for accommodation was the most common reason for deductions, affecting 1482, 1441, and 1326 customers respectively across the three years.
  • Recovery of budgeting loans was the second most frequent reason, with 790, 726, and 640 customers affected.
  • The response clarified that the grand total of deductions (4626, 4607, 4585) exceeds the number of unique customers because some individuals had multiple deductions.
  • Deductions for Manx Credit Union increased significantly from 288 customers in 2021-22 to 559 in 2023-24.

Data Disclosed

  • 2996
  • 2982
  • 2992
  • 4626
  • 4607
  • 4585
  • 1482
  • 1441
  • 1326
  • 790
  • 726
  • 640
  • 2021-22
  • 2022-23
  • 2023-24
  • 2024-06-18
  • 2024-07-17
  • 3924961

Original Request

For each of the last three financial years, how many benefit claimants have had deductions made from their benefits? Also, please specify the reasons the deductions were made and the number of benefit claimants who had deductions made for each reason for each year.

Data Tables (3)

Financial Year Total no. of customers with benefit deductions
2021-22 2996
2022-23 2982
2023-24 2992
No. of customers
Reason for deduction 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24
Care home fees 580 530 554
Court Order 336 301 306
Fee for replacement of lost MiCard 3 4 29
Manx Care community homes fees 81 81 77
No. of customers
Reason for deduction cont’d 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24
Manx Credit Union 288 449 559
Motability Finance Limited 388 392 426
Other accommodation fees 89 95 74
Recovery of budgeting loan 790 726 640
Recovery of overpaid benefits 315 335 350
Rent for accommodation 1482 1441 1326
Utilities (gas/oil/electricity) 267 245 236
Rates (general water & sewerage) 7 8 8
Grand Total 4626 4607 4585

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information
Seyrsnys Fysseree

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

Telephone: (01624) 685605 Email: FOI.Treasury@gov.im

Government Website: www.gov.im

Our ref: 3924961 17 July 2024

Dear ###,

We write further to your request, received 18 June 2024 and amended on 2 July 2024, which states:

"For each of the last three financial years, how many benefit claimants have had deductions made from their benefits? Also, please specify the reasons the deductions were made and the number of benefit claimants who had deductions made for each reason for each year."

Our response to your request is as follows:

For each of the last three financial years, how many benefit claimants have had deductions made from their benefits?

Financial Year Total no. of customers with benefit deductions 2021-22 2996 2022-23 2982 2023-24 2992

Please be advised that a number of customers have more than one deduction made from their benefits.

Please specify the reasons the deductions were made and the number of benefit claimants who had deductions made for each reason for each year

No. of customers
Reason for deduction 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 Care home fees 580 530 554 Court Order 336 301 306 Fee for replacement of lost MiCard 3 4 29 Manx Care community homes fees 81 81 77

No. of customers Reason for deduction cont’d 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 Manx Credit Union 288 449 559 Motability Finance Limited 388 392 426 Other accommodation fees 89 95 74 Recovery of budgeting loan 790 726 640 Recovery of overpaid benefits 315 335 350 Rent for accommodation 1482 1441 1326 Utilities (gas/oil/electricity) 267 245 236 Rates (general water & sewerage)
7 8 8 Grand Total 4626 4607 4585

Please be advised that a number of customers have had deductions from their benefits for multiple reasons throughout the financial years above.

Please quote the reference number 3924961 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.