Benefit Overpayments

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Customer First
Medway Council
Gun Wharf
Dock Road
Chatham
Kent ME4 4TR
tel: 01634 333333
email: [Medway Council request email]

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Dear Mary-Ann P,

 

                                                                                                           
Refusal Notice

Request for Information Reference Number:   RFI/4963

 

Thank you for your request for information which we received on 28
November 2011.

 

The information you requested is as follows:

 

1.Can you confirm or deny that if YOU {Medway Unitary Authority} Make a
benefit overpayment which is NOT the fault of the claimant then you must
inform the claimant in form of a breakdown where the error had been made
rather than simply claim that person or persons has been overpaid. 2. Can
you also confirm or deny that if an overpayment has occured due to
official error and not through error of the claimant, he or she is not
obliged in law to repay that overpayment.

 

I regret to advise that your request is not valid  under   section 8(1)(b)
of the Freedom of Information Act  2000 ( the "FOIA" ) , which  requires
the name of the applicant to be stated  when they are making a
request.  In the absence of a full name, the Council will follow guidance
from the Information Commissioner's Office , which  states that the use of
only one name or initials  renders  a  request invalid.
 

Please note that the requested information may be sought from
alternative sources.  Your query appears to relate to the legal provisions
that the Council follow, and the rights afforded to individuals. Please
redirect your request to a solicitors firm or the Citizens Advice Bureaux
who should be able to provide you with specific legal advice.   

 

If you are unhappy with the decision we have made or wish to complain
about any other issue regarding the Freedom of Information Act 2000 please
see the attached handout ‘Request for Information Complaints Procedures’.

 

For further information on the Freedom of Information 2000, the exemptions
and how requests are dealt, with you can log onto the Medway Council
website at www.medway.gov.uk/freedomofinformation.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Jon Poulson

Revenues & Benefits Manager

 

 

 

Jon Poulson IRRV (Hons)

Revenues and Benefits Contract Manager

Business Support Department

Medway Council

Gun Wharf

Chatham

Kent

ME4 4TR

Tel No 01634 333700

E-mail [email address]

 

 

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