Benefit rules

Summary

The requester asked for rules regarding social welfare payments for households affected by polygamous marriages in the Isle of Man. The Treasury refused to send the documents, stating the information is already reasonably accessible online via specific Social Security regulations.

Key Facts

• Polygamous marriages are not permitted under Manx law, but rules exist for households affected by such marriages performed abroad.
• The Treasury cited Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 to refuse the request.
• The requested information is available in the Income Support Regulations, Employed Person's Allowance Regulations 2011, and Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996.
• The Social Security Division follows these regulations if a claim is received from a person in a polygamous marriage.
• The request was closed on 11 September 2024.

Data Disclosed

• 4110733
• 2024-09-09
• 2024-09-11
• Regulation 15
• Regulation 20
• Regulation 84
• 2011
• 1996
• Part IV
• Part 5
• Chapter 1

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information reasonably accessible)

Original Request

A copy of the rules or procedures as they apply to social welfare payments for people in polygamous marriages in the Isle of Man. I acknowledge that polygamous marriages are not permitted under Manx law, so instead I am referring to the rules that apply to households affected by polygamous weddings that took place in countries where the practice is legal.

Data Tables (3)

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: 4110733 11 September 2024

Dear ###,

We write further to your request, received 9 September 2024, which states:

"A copy of the rules or procedures as they apply to social welfare payments for people in polygamous marriages in the Isle of Man.

I acknowledge that polygamous marriages are not permitted under Manx law, so instead I am referring to the rules that apply to households affected by polygamous weddings that took place in countries where the practice is legal."

Our response to you as follows:

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you, whether free of charge or on payment of a fee. All of the information that you have requested is available online in the relevant Social Security regulations, as approved by Tynwald. These regulations are followed by the Social Security Division if an application regarding a claimant in a polygamous marriage is received.
The relevant regulations can be found here: Income Support Regulations (Part IV – Applicable Amounts, Regulation 15) Employed Person’s Allowance (General) Regulations 2011 (Part 5 – Income & Capital, Chapter 1 – General, Regulation 20) Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 as they are applied to the Isle of Man (Regulation 84)
Please quote the reference number 4110733 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.