DWP Central Freedom of
Information Team
Caxton House
6-12 Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA
Owen Stevens
freedom-of-information-
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx
DWP Website
Our Ref: FOI2022/76366
21 October 2022
Dear Owen Stevens,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information (FoI) request received on 28 September. You
wrote:
“An Equality Analysis has been undertaken on the amendments to the Universal Credit
Regulations 2013 to raise the Administrative Earnings Threshold: https://secure-
web.cisco.com/1qWRpAsUI1I0ISHd4Ns5lPH0mXWU_GaSSics06ViFq6Tde1wlAAs2ZiM
_JdXdBanbadXzLVRyoypatQ3M4Be4ruhjRMmSTn7xEtOZtw3NdnDZepNBJ7HJUvv77A
5053tMJ3hM5O8OZcLJNW_Nos7e98dCdKiMMgvPyB1iqueDm3xvQtQEBqZx2simkPjFE
_WzcDo126NZcZSdjK2GT8oWJv76GZQ5Bh_JtbgWwCUZF1DoJXMlScwHof68kbXx2R-
Z8rYwvZsGLxFoVogqUmWONOvWwwCx1sIrVOSW42k9I7eIRgcUHFdVs596UBMj4a93
HZwz6cqOufzfXT4GRR6wlQ/https%3A%2F%2Fquestions-
statements.parliament.uk%2Fwritten-questions%2Fdetail%2F2022-09-06%2F48353
1) Please provide the Equality Analysis for the increase to the AET which took effect on
26/09/2022
2) Please also provide the Equality Analysis for the further increase to the AET which is
planned for January 2023 (as set out at para 4.30 of the Growth Plan 2022)”
DWP Response
Request 1
We confirm that we do hold the information you have requested that relates to
The Universal Credit (Administrative Earnings Threshold) (Amendment) Regulations 2022. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/886/regulation/2/made. A copy of the
Equality Analysis for Raising the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET) is
attached.
Expanding the number of benefit claimants on low earnings that will be expected to meet
regularly with a work coach and take steps to increase their earnings will help ensure people
are progressing.
The change is part of the Government’s in work progression agenda, supporting claimants
into work and up the career ladder.
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The disclosed document has where appropriate, been redacted to remove information which
is exempt under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, as personal
information belonging to an individual other than the requester.
Section 40(2) exempts information in response to a request if it is personal data belonging to
an individual other than the requester and it satisfies one of the conditions listed in the
legislation. In this case the condition contained in section 40(3A)(a) applies - that disclosure
would breach one of the data protection principles, specifically that “Personal data shall be
processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner...”.
We do not consider that disclosing this information is necessary or justified in order to satisfy
your information request and the requirements of the FoI Act. In relation to this request, we
consider that there is no strong legitimate interest that would override the prejudice to the
rights and freedoms of the data subject.
Personal data are subject to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data
Protection Act 2018
Request 2
We confirm that we do not hold the information you have requested.
In the interest of being helpful and provided outside of our obligation of the FoI Act you may
find the following helpful:
• We will be undertaking an Equality Analysis for the further increase to the AET in due
course.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact us quoting the reference number
above.
Yours sincerely,
DWP Central Freedom of Information Team
Department for Work and Pensions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.xx or by writing to: DWP Central FoI Team, Caxton
House, 6-12 Tothill Street, London, 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.
Website
: ICO FOI and EIR complaints or telephone 0303 123 1113.
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