Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Central Freedom of Information Team
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx
Our reference: FOI2018/03014
Date: 1 October 2018
Dear C Hart
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 3 September.
You asked:
I would like to requests under FOI how student finance maintence loans and
the special support element is worked out when eligible for universal credit.
The SSE is meant to be disregarded. Could you verify? I would also like to
ask for calculation of universal credit reduction against the maintenance loan.
DWP Response:
It may be helpful if I explain the role of the Freedom of Information Act. The
Act provides a right of access to recorded information held by a public author-
ity like DWP (subject to certain exemptions). The Act does not provide that a
public authority must create new information to answer questions; nor does it
provide that a public authority give advice, opinion or explanation in relation to
issues/policies under question.
In cases where a customer does ask a question, rather than request recorded
information, we do our utmost to provide the recorded information that best
answers the question. Once the public authority has provided the recorded in-
formation, it has met its obligations under the Act; interpretation of the infor-
mation provided is left to the requestor.
The information we hold that best answers your questions can be found in the
‘
Universal Credit Full Service guidance’ which is published in the House of
Commons library. Select the link below, Deposit ref. DEP2018-0759, click on
“Show all files” in the Deposit ref. column. For reference please see Deposit
paper:
‘Students: eligibility, conditionality and student income.’ https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/business-
papers/commons/deposited-
papers/?search_term=Department+for+Work+and+Pensions&itemId=119004
#toggle-759
If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the
reference number above.
Yours sincerely,
DWP Policy Group FoI Team
Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act
If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx or by writing to: DWP, Central FoI Team,
Caxton House, Tothill Street, SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two
months of the date of this letter.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the
Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a
decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information
Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House,
Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF
www.ico.org.uk/Global/contact_us or telephone 0303 123 1113 or 01625 545745