FOIs responded to since January 2018
FOI 0073
Dear Mrs P Langton,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 7 January 2018. I apologise
for the delay in replying. You asked:
From the National Audit Office Department for Work AND Pensions: Using
leaflets to communicate with the public about services and entitlements.
Published Janauary 25th 2006
The NAO tested the availability of a number of key leaflets at 100
departmental outlets and a further 100 other sites where customers might
seek information.
Leaflets for pensioners and disabled people were available at 20 per cent of
all these sites.
The NAO found core leaflets were available at only half of the 100
Departmental sites visited and where leaflets were not available staff found it
difficult to help customers obtain information.
Staff provided a range of responses, including giving out telephone numbers
to call or alternative sites to visit, but there is currently no single number for
the public to call to get leaflets.
“It is vital that people can rely on the accuracy of the leaflets the government
produces to make informed choices about their lives.
And it is vital that they can get hold of these leaflets and easily understand
them when they do.
Those leaflets that were available were not always the correct versions; for
example, one recently reprinted leaflet was out of date at 40 of the 44 sites
where it was available.
In addition, some offices had different versions of the same leaflet on display.
The report notes that steps have been taken at a senior level within The
Pension Service to improve this situation and recommends that other
managers should follow suit.
The Department for Work and Pensions has made progress in these respects
but needs to manage better the leaflets it produces to ensure those needing
information can access it when they need to.”
Sir John Bourn, head of the NAO, 25 January 2006 Providing inaccurate or
out of date information in any communication can have consequences for
both customers and the Department (Box 1).
These are not theoretical risks. In the 1990s, for example, the Department’s
failure to inform the public following a change in legislation about the Inherited
State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) led to people being misled
about their future pension entitlement.
Staff at local offices decides when to order more leaflets and are responsible
for maintaining the currency of the stock they hold.
To conserve the stocks of some leaflets, and to prevent local stock piles,
some leaflets have restrictions on the number that can be ordered at any one
time.
How does the Department manage the risks of misinforming the public?
10 All government departments are now required to identify and record their
key risks in order that they can manage them.
The Department for Work and Pensions identifies and records its risks via a
strategic risk register, which is reviewed routinely by its Strategic Risk Review
Board.
This register lists “providing unreliable advice or information to the public” as
one of its 17 key corporate risks.
The Pension Service has taken the most comprehensive approach and has
demonstrated good practice in managing the risks of inaccuracy.
It has developed a Content Management System to hold details of all the
leaflets and information products across government departments containing
references to pension’s information, more than 1,000 products.
In 2003-04, out-of-date stocks of leaflets were a particular problem in The
Pension Service, and over 60 per cent of the leaflets distributed to customers
from the seven Pension Centres visited by Internal Audit were out of date,
some by up to two years.
My Freedom of Information Request please could you supply the results of
the any audits by Strategic Risk Review Board on risks associated with out of
date leaflets for 1993 1994 1995 and 2011.
From a letter that I was sent by Lynne Wray State Pension Manager on the
20th February 2017 with regards to my Complaints she had written DWP also
ran a pension education campaign in 2004, which included informing people
of the future equalisation of State Pension Age.
The campaign included: A women’s Pension Pack containing leaflets for
women about changes in State Pension age, made available through the
Pension Service.
My Freedom of Information Request is what version was the leaflet in the
Womens Pension Pack, please could you sent me a copy of this leaflet, is this
leaflet on the Content Management System which according to National Audit
Office Department for Work and Pensions hold details of all the leaflets and
information products across government departments containing references
to pension’s information.
From BSB (Pensions) Room 86Q, Longbenton e mail to all Pension Staff
Series No: 27/95 Subject: The Pensions Act 1995
Date: 20 July 1995
42. To limit the number of enquiries directed at the LOs a press
announcement has been issued. This advises customers that two information
leaflets `Equality in State Pension Age' (EQPla) and `The Pensions Act 1995'
are being prepared which outline the changes and can be obtained by ringing
the following helpline number 0345 313233 (local call rate will
apply)
42. To limit the number of enquiries directed at the LOs a press
announcement has been issued.
This advises customers that two information leaflets `Equality in State
Pension Age' (EQPla) and `The Pensions Act 1995' are being prepared which
outline the changes and can be obtained by ringing the following helpline
number 0345 313233 (local call rate will apply).
43. A supply of information leaflets (200) will be delivered to each local office
for distribution by local office staff as soon as possible.
Equality in State Pension Age '(published in December 1993); and Security,
Equality, Choice: The Future for Pensions ' (published in June 1994).
My Freedom of Information Request would be could you supply me a copy of
the press announcement that was issued to limit the number of enquiries from
Series No: 27/95 Subject: The Pensions Act 1995 Date: 20 July 1995.
From the DWP I received a letter from Mark Fairbain Complaint Resolution
Manager date 3rd March 2017 which he had written, Some other activities we
have undertaken to communicate the change are: published Leaflet EQP1A
“Equality in State Pension age – A summary of the changes (July 1995)
On the E-Mail to the Pension Staff Series No: 27/95 Subject: The Pensions
Act 1995 it has the leaflet Equality in State Pension Age (published in
December 1993); also it says that leaflets `Equality in State Pension Age'
(EQPla) and `The Pensions Act 1995' are being prepared.
My Freedom of Information Request was the Equality in State Pension Age
leaflet published in December 1993 was not used by the DWP after the 1995
Act was in force and was not found In 2003-04 audits , when out-of-date
stocks of leaflets were a particular problem in The Pension Service, and when
did the DWP Sites had the supply of information leaflets (200) which would be
delivered to each local office for distribution by local office staff as soon as
possible, does this mean that only half of the leaflets would be (EQPla), how
many (EQPla) were given out.
From the DWP I received a letter from Mark Fairbain Complaint Resolution
Manager date 3rd March 2017 which he had written a reply to my complaint
he said You also complained about the accuracy of information provided and
you specifically mention a government website which still had a 60 as the
State Pension age for women as recently as February this year. We did
indeed become aware of incorrect information on a Government Gateway
web page and we corrected the information within 24 Hours.
My Freedom of Information Request is Mr Mark Fairbain Complaint
Resolution Manager had confirmed from my letter from him date 3rd Mrch
2017 that a government website which still had a 60 as the State Pension age
for women as recently as February this year, Please could you forward me the
details of the Government Website that still had a 60 as the State Pension
age for women as recently as February this year?
FOI 0013
Dear Mrs P Langton,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 2 January 2018. You asked:
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
I have recently completed my complaint procedure with the DWP, which is
now with the Independent Case Examiner, the case examiner has said I
would like to remind you that if you wish to provide any further information or
evidence in relation to my complaint, please send it to us and we will ensure it
is considered once the investigation into your complaint starts.
Having read The Civil Service code for the DWP staff Under the Civil Service
values which says ‘honesty’ is being truthful and open ‘objectivity’ is basing
your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence.
Also under the same code Under the Standards of behaviour set out the facts
and relevant issues truthfully, and correct any errors as soon as possible, and
that the DWP staff must not ignore inconvenient facts or relevant
considerations when providing advice or making decisions.
I would presume that the cost on the below information that I have requested
has allergy been spent internally by the DWP in order that Complaint
Resolution Manager could make his reply/decisions on rigorous analysis of
the evidence, and keep within the Civil Service Code by setting out the facts
and relevant issues truthfully.
I have set out below freedom-of-information-requests.
From my received letter dated 3 March 2017 from Mark Fairburn Complaint
Resolution Manager he made statements set out below.
Published Leaflet EQP1A “Equality in State Pension age- A summary of the
changes “ (July 1995)
My Freedom of Information Request is Can you supply me a copy of the
Leaflet EQPIA and also a copy of what analysis of the evidence Mark
Fairburn had seen.
Ran a pensions education campaign in 2004, which included information on
the future equalisation of Spa.
My Freedom of Information Request is Can you supply me a copy of the
analysis of the evidence that Mark Fairburn had seen to the education
campaign and also the included information on the future equalisation
of Spa.
From April 2009 to March 2011 we sent letters to women born between 6th
April 1950 – 5th April 1953 informing them od Spa changes.
My Freedom of Information Request is Can you supply me a copy of the
analysis of the evidence that Mark Fairburn had seen on the sent letters
to women born between 6th April 1950 – 5th April 1953 informing them
od Spa changes.
Wrote to all those directly affected by the 2011 changes informing them of the
change to their Spa, which was completed between January 2012 and
November 2013.
My Freedom of Information Request is Can you supply me a copy of the
analysis of the evidence that Mark Fairburn had seen on the sent letters
to women directly affected by the 2011 changes informing them of the
change to their Spa, which was completed between January 2012 and
November 2013.
FOI 0014
Dear Mrs P Langton,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 2 January 2018. You asked:
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
I have recently completed my complaint procedure with the DWP, which is
now with the Independent Case Examiner, the case examiner has said I
would like to remind you that if you wish to provide any further information or
evidence in relation to my complaint, please send it to us and we will ensure it
is considered once the investigation into your complaint starts.
Having read The Civil Service code for the DWP staff Under the Civil Service
values which says ‘honesty’ is being truthful and open ‘objectivity’ is basing
your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence.
Also under the same code Under the Standards of behaviour set out the facts
and relevant issues truthfully, and correct any errors as soon as possible, and
that the DWP staff must not ignore inconvenient facts or relevant
considerations when providing advice or making decisions.
I would presume that the cost on the below information that I have requested
has allredy been spent internally by the DWP in order that Complaint
Resolution Manager could make his reply/decisions on rigorous analysis of
the evidence, and keep within the Civil Service Code by setting out the facts
and relevant issues truthfully.
If you ae unable to supply me my Freedom of information requests would this
mean that the DWP Staff have also been unable to see the evidence in order
to fullfill the Civil Service Code to make decisions on rigorous analysis of the
evidence ?
I have set out below freedom-of-information-requests.
From my received letter dated 20 February 2017 from Lynne Wray State
Pension Manager she made statements set out below.
Direct mailing targeted specifically at women highlighting that womens State
Pension age is changing
My Freedom of Information Request is Can you supply me copys of the
analysis of the evidence that Lynne Wray had seen of the Direct mailing
targeted specifically at women highlighting that womens State Pension
age is changing
Ran a pensions education campaign in 2004, which included informing people
of the future equalisation of State PensionAge. The Campaign included:
Advertising features in the press and womens magazines My Freedom of
Information Request is Can you supply me copys of the analysis of the
evidence that Lynne Wray had seen on all the Advertising features in the
press and womens magazines which included informing people of the future
equalisation of State PensionAge.
A womens Pension Pack containing leaflets for women about changes in
State Pension age, made available through the Pension Service
My Freedom of Information Request is Can you supply me copys of the
analysis of the evidence that Lynne Wray had seen of the womens
Pension Pack containing leaflets for women about changes in State
Pension age, made available through the Pension Service informing
people of the future equalisation of State PensionAge.
Sending State Pension statements with an accompanying leaflet showing
when the person will reach State Pension age and who is affected by the
chages to women State Pension age ( issued to those who requested them)
My Freedom of Information Request is Can you supply me copys of the
analysis of the evidence that Lynne Wray had seen of the when the
DWP was Sending State Pension statements with an accompanying
leaflet showing when the person will reach State Pension age and who
is affected by the chages to women State Pension age ( issued to those
who requested them)
In addition to these efforts, all those affected by the 1995 Act changes were
sent letters between April 2009 and March 2011, Following the Pension Act
2011, DWP wrote to all those directly affected to inform them of the changes
to their State Pension Age.
My Freedom of Information Request is Can you supply me copys of the
analysis of the evidence that Lynne Wray had seen of the letters that
the DWP has said they had sent out between April 2009 and March 2011,
Following the Pension Act 2011, DWP wrote to all those directly affected
to inform them of the changes to their State Pension Age.
FOI 0032
Dear Mrs P Langton,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 3 January 2018. You asked:
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
I have recently completed my complaint procedure with the DWP, which is
now with the Independent Case Examiner, the case examiner has said I
would like to remind you that if you wish to provide any further information or
evidence in relation to my complaint, please send it to us and we will ensure it
is considered once the investigation into your complaint starts.
Having read The Civil Service code for the DWP staff Under the Civil Service
values which says ‘honesty’ is being truthful and open ‘objectivity’ is basing
your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence.
Also under the same code Under the Standards of behaviour set out the facts
and relevant issues truthfully, and correct any errors as soon as possible, and
that the DWP staff must not ignore inconvenient facts or relevant
considerations when providing advice or making decisions.
On a Freedom of information request your reference Fol 3166 Date: 16th
August 2017 the DWP Strategy Fol Team had replied to a Maralyn Donneliy
who ask could you inform her of the numbers of letters sent to women whose
pension age did not change under the Pension Act of 2011 and also the
numbers of letters sent to women whose pension age did change.
From the information that the DWP had sent to the FOI reference Fol 3166
Date: 16th August 2017 is a table showing the date of birth date notified and
the number of letters sent.
Having read the information I would like My Freedom of Information Requests
based upon the table which is showed in this FOI reference Fol 3166 Date:
16th August 2017.
It shows the date of births between 6 Apr 1953 to 5 Apr 1955 to 5 Apr 1960
which have been effected by the 2011 Act, from the 6 Apr 1950 to 5 Apr 1953
it indicates that as previous dates that letters were sent to people affected by
the 1995 Pension Act.
Being born in Dec 1956 the DWP has said that previous letters were sent to
people affected by the Pension Act between 6 Apr 1950 to 5 Apr 1953 which
excludes me as being effected by the 1995 Pension Act and was not sent
mailings undertaken as part of a communication research project and only
that I was sent a notification of the 2011 Pension Act.
My Freedom of Information Requests: is that could you confirm if
women who were born in Dec 1956 was effected by the 1995 pension act
in your tables you have said that people born in Dec 1956 is effected
only by the 2011 Pension Act , as it is very clear that this date Dec 1956
is excluded from the DWP mailing to inform them of the 1995 Pension
Act as prior to 5 Apr 1953 it was only this group of Women were sent
letters to people affected by the 1995 Pension Act.
My Freedom of Information Requests: I would like a copy of the letter
sent to Women who were born after 6 Apr 1953 that informs them of the
1995 Pension act and also the Letter that informed them of the 2011
Pension Act.
In your table the date of birth from the 6 Apr 1950 to 5 Apr 1955 your table
shows the month and the year in which the DWP had notified and the number
of letters sent, however from the 6 Apr 1955 to 5 Apr 1960 the date notified
was Oct 2012 to Nov 2013.
My Freedom of Information Request: Please copy me exactly the letter
or letters that was sent to me to inform me of the 1995 Pension Act and
the 2011 Pension Act Born 1956 and also when it was sent the month
and the year, you have already said it is not possible to split the
volumes down into letters sent to women and letters sent to men as we
do not hold this information, however you have been able to split the
month and the year for the birth dates 6 Apr 1950 to 5 Apr 1955, this is
very important as it will show when letters were sent to individuals at
the address recorded by HMRC at the time that mail was sent out which
the DWP has alluded to.
FOI 0047
Dear Mrs P Langton,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 4 January 2018. You asked:
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
I have recently completed my complaint procedure with the DWP, which is
now with the Independent Case Examiner, the case examiner has said I
would like to remind you that if you wish to provide any further information or
evidence in relation to my complaint, please send it to us and we will ensure it
is considered once the investigation into your complaint starts.
Having read The Civil Service code for the DWP staff Under the Civil Service
values which says ‘honesty’ is being truthful and open ‘objectivity’ is basing
your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence.
Also under the same code Under the Standards of behaviour set out the facts
and relevant issues truthfully, and correct any errors as soon as possible, and
that the DWP staff must not ignore inconvenient facts or relevant
considerations when providing advice or making decisions.
I would presume that the cost on the below information that I have requested
has allergy been spent internally by the DWP in order that Complaint
Resolution Manager could make his reply/decisions on rigorous analysis of
the evidence, and keep within the Civil Service Code by setting out the facts
and relevant issues truthfully.
I have set out below freedom-of-information-requests.
In a letter date 20 February 2017 from the DWP employee Lynne Wray State
Pension Manager with regards to my recent complaint procedure that I had
followed with the DWP, she had written that “The DWP Attitudes to pension
survey found that in 2006, 86 per cent of people aged 55-64 and 90 per cent
of those aged 45-54 were aware that the State Pension age would increase in
the future.
When I looked into this survey I found out that it was conducted between May
2006 and August 2006, with only 1950 adults that were given a Face to Face
interview, it was release around March 2007, each interviewer was asked to
interview at least three men and three women, two people age 18-34, two
aged 35-59 and one aged 60-69, four people in paid work and two not in paid
work.
Although the survey was always refereed to as “Attitudes to Pensions” by the
research Team this name was deemed to be inappropriate to use when
presenting the survey to respondents.
It was initially thought the word pension had a negative connotations and so
would dissuade respondents from co-operating, for this reason the survey
was known at this However, the response after the pilot was that the survey
name should include Reference to Pension so as not to mislead respondents
as to its nature.
It was also felt that the name was not appropriate for those already retired and
so the survey name was changed to “Attitudes to Pensions and Planning for
Retirement after the pilot was carried out.
Only 1950 people were ask questions on the 2006 survey, on my own
calculations the amount of women in the age group 45-54 represented approx
only 189 Women and in the age group 55-64 came to approx 173 Women a
total of 362 Women were included in the 2006 Pension Survey, at the time the
Population of the UK was 38,959,900 People.
From a Freedom of Information request of the 21/02/2017 DWP ref Fol
717 which the DWP replied to it on the 08/03/2017 in an answer the DWP
reply was we estimate that 3.48 Million women born in the 1950’s living
in Great Britain are affected by the Equalisation of Women State Pension
age or the increase in State Pension Age to 66.
Out of the 1950 People who took the survey only 362 Women with the above
age group had took the survey I feel that it is to small a number used to have
a fulfilling important Survey.
My Freedom of Information Request is Can you supply me a copy of The
DWP Attitudes to Pension Survey 2006, which Lynne Wray State
Pension Manager had remaked upon in her Letter to me on the 20
February 2017.
My Freedom of Information Request is Can you supply me a copy of the pilot
survey Called “Thinking ahead, understanding peoples views about planning
for the future”
My Freedom of Information Request is Can you supply me a copy of the
survey name which was changed to “ Attitudes to Pensions and
Planning for Retirement this is after the pilot was carried out.
My Freedom of Information Request is Can you supply me a copys of
the Questions and the respondants responces that each of the Survey
put to the People especilly Question SPM65, SPW60 and SPM65.
My Freedom of Information Request is could you supply me the
documentation that changes the original name of the Survey from
Attitudes to Pensions and Planning for Retirement to Attitudes to
Pension Survey 2006 as It was also felt that the pilot name was not
appropriate for those already retired and so the survey name was
changed to “ Attitudes to Pensions and Planning for Retirement, this
was the name of the survey which was put to the respondents in 2006, it
is misleading that the DWP does not keep to the name on which the
survey was called and seek to change it when responding to the 1950’s
Women in the many letters to the Complaints to the DWP, missing the
Words “Planning for Retirement”
My Freedom of Information Request is could you supply me a Copy of
the 2009 Attitudes to pension Survey, my understanding is that on this
survey which the DWP has not highlighted has considerable
uncertintlyabout State Pension age, fewer respondnts were aware of
current male and female SPA than was the case three years ago,.
In addition, few respondents were aware of the age (to the nearest year) at
which they would be able to start receiving their State Pension, given the
planned incremental rise in male and female SPA: only 30 per cent of men
and 17 per cent of women knew this.
Individules were likely to expect to receive the State Pension before they will
be eligible to do so.
My Freedom of Information Request is could you advise me on how
many respondents Female and Males took the 2009 Attitudes to pension
Survey.
FOI 0067
Dear Mrs P Langton,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 6 January 2018. You asked:
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
I have recently completed my complaint procedure with the DWP, which is
now with the Independent Case Examiner, the case examiner has said I
would like to remind you that if you wish to provide any further information or
evidence in relation to my complaint, please send it to us and we will ensure it
is considered once the investigation into your complaint starts.
Having read The Civil Service code for the DWP staff Under the Civil Service
values which says ‘honesty’ is being truthful and open ‘objectivity’ is basing
your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence.
Also under the same code Under the Standards of behaviour set out the facts
and relevant issues truthfully, and correct any errors as soon as possible, and
that the DWP staff must not ignore inconvenient facts or relevant
considerations when providing advice or making decisions.
After reading a response from the DWP Central Freedom of Information Team
reference VTR3730 date 30 September 2015, a D Smulders asked Can you
please send me a dated copy of the letter issued by the DWP advising of the
increase to State Pension Age of women to age 62 and 63. Please clarify
when and to which group(s) of women this letter was sent out to.
The DWP Replied Date of Birth Increase in Spa above 60 years which was
Date of Birth 6.4.52 – 5.10.52 Increase in Spa above 60 years 24 – 30 months
Date when will turn 60 years 6.4.12 – 5.10.12 Date of mailing July 2010
Date of Birth 6.10.52 – 5.4.53 Increase in Spa above 60 years 30 – 36 months
Date when will turn 60 years 6.10.12 – 5.4.13 Date of mailing Oct 2010
A against the DWP Central Freedom of Information Team reply to a Freedom
of Information reference Fol 3344 Date 1 September 2017 there seem to be
a discrepancy to the date that was given/recorded by the DWP to when letters
were sent to a certain aged group of Women.
The person who requested the Fol 3344 had written :
Although DWP claims to have sent letters to all those affected by SPA
increase, how does it account for the fact that a HUGE number of #WASPI
women did NOT receive a letter either in 2011, or 2012-13 (myself included)
and were otherwise totally unaware of and shocked by the adverse changes
to SPA, which is one of their major complaints about the way DWP and
government handled this?
Part of the Fol response from the DWP they had said:
In relation to your query regarding the issue of letters please see the table
below, which indicates which year letters were sent out and how many. The
Department wrote to all those directly affected to inform them of the changes,
using the address recorded by HMRC at the time.
These volumes include mailings undertaken as part of a communications
research project, and include some people overseas and in Northern Ireland,
in addition to Great Britain. It is not possible to split the volumes down into
letters sent to women and letters sent to men as we do not hold this
information.
The table that the DWP had place to this Fol request has a large discrepancy
for the Date of Birth 6.4.52 to 5.10.52 it has the date of Feb 2011 when letters
were sent which is at odds to the 2015 request reference VTR3730 which for
the same age group has a date of Jul 2010 that’s a difference of 8 months,
and what the DWP had said In relation to your query regarding the issue of
letters please see the table below, which indicates which year letters were
sent out and how many.
The discrepancy is the year which relates to 8 Months.
The table that the DWP had place to this Fol request has a large discrepancy
for the Date of Birth 6.10.52 to 5.04.53 it has the date of Mar 2011 when
letters were sent which is at odds to the 2015 request reference VTR3730
which for the same age group has a date of Oct 2010 that’s a difference of 8
months, and what the DWP had said In relation to your query regarding the
issue of letters please see the table below, which indicates which year letters
were sent out and how many.
The discrepancy is the year which relates to also 8 Months.
My Freedom of Information Request is could you advise what
documentation did both the DWP Central Freedom of Information Team
used in both the Foi requests reference number Fol 3344 and reference
VTR3730, and why is a 8 month discrepancy on the date that the DWP
had said they sent letters to the same cohort of Women.
What is maladministration? This is from the DWP Website Unfortunately, we
don’t always get things right first time.
The term ‘maladministration’ is not defined, but is sometimes used to
describe when our actions or inactions result in a customer experiencing a
service which does not match our aims or the commitments we have given.
It applies to situations in which we have not acted properly or provided a poor
service.
For example: wrong advice, discourtesy, mistakes and delays.
My Freedom of Information Request is if this is proven to be a mistake
would this represent Maladministration Under the Standards for DWP
Staff Standard of behaviour is to set out the facts and relevant issues
truthfully, and correct any errors as soon as possible, if this was an
Error My Freedom of Information Request is when was it corrected?
FOI 0142
Dear Mrs P Langton,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 11 January 2018. You asked:
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
I have recently completed my complaint procedure with the DWP, which is
now with the Independent Case Examiner, the case examiner has said I
would like to remind you that if you wish to provide any further information or
evidence in relation to my complaint, please send it to us and we will ensure it
is considered once the investigation into your complaint starts.
Having read The Civil Service code for the DWP staff Under the Civil Service
values which says ‘honesty’ is being truthful and open ‘objectivity’ is basing
your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence.
Also under the same code Under the Standards of behaviour set out the facts
and relevant issues truthfully, and correct any errors as soon as possible, and
that the DWP staff must not ignore inconvenient facts or relevant
considerations when providing advice or making decisions.
David Linden SNP Whip on the (Citation: HC Deb, 10 January 2018, cW)
Hansard Source Asked The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions,
pursuant to the Answer of 21 December 2017 to Question 120384, if he will
place in the Library copies of any printed materials his Department still holds
which were used in the pensions education communications campaign.
Guy Opperman The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions reply was:
The Pensions Education Campaign ran from 2001 to 2004, details of which
the Department outlined in response on 21 December 2017, question 120384.
Due to the time elapsed since the campaign, the Department no longer holds
any printed copies of these products.
From a DWP freedon of information reference Our Ref: FOI 3001 date
07/11/2016 Part of the reply from the DWP was :
DWP ran a pensions education campaign in 2004, which included informing
people of the future equalisation of State Pension age.
The pensions’ education campaign ran in waves from January 2001 until
February 2004 and included informing people of the future equalisation of
State Pension age.
The objectives were to make people aware of the importance of planning for
their retirement and to inform them of the information available to help them
plan their options.
The campaign used TV and press advertising, and direct marketing.
One of the press adverts was specifically about the equalisation of State
Pension age and was featured in women’s magazines and national
newspaper supplements.
If no printed copies of these products from The Pensions Education
Campaign are available how could the DWP and its satff inclusive of the The
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions can say for
certain of the content of this Pensions Education Campaign when the The
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Department
said that the DWP no longer holds any printed copies of these products.
My Freedom of Information Request: Please send me copies of written or
computer held information that informs the DWP and The Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions that The pensions’ education
campaign ran in waves from January 2001 until February 2004 as the DWP
no longer holds any printed copies of these products, also I would like
information of One of the press adverts that was specifically about the
equalisation of State Pension age and was featured in women’s magazines
and national newspaper supplements (which the foi 3001 date 07/11/2016
alluded to, this was clear statement from the DWP that its existed, "a vital
piece of information" that they must have seen or had a computer copy in
order to rigorous analysis of the evidence.
FOI 0158
Dear B Langton,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 13 January 2018. You asked:
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pension Baroness Altmann at
2.29 pm on the 3rd December 2015 House of Lords Debate (Citation: HL Deb,
3 December 2015, c1247) said:
To raise further awareness of the state pension age equalisation under the
Pensions Act 1995, in July 1995 the department issued leaflet EQP1a,
Equality in State Pension Age: A Summary of Changes, to advise the general
public on the changes.
The DWP ran a pensions education campaign in 2004, which included
informing people of the future equalisation of state pension age.
That campaign included: advertising features in the press and women’s
magazines; a “women’s pensions pack” containing leaflets for women about
changes in state pension age, made available through the Pension Service;
direct mailings targeted specifically at women, highlighting that women’s state
pension age is changing; sending state pension forecast letters with leaflets
explaining the changes to women’s state pension age to those who requested
them; and developing an interactive state pension date/age calculator facility
on the Pension Service website.
My freedom of information request: The Minister of State, Department for
Work and Pension said: That campaign included: advertising features in the
press and women’s magazines; a “women’s pensions pack” containing
leaflets for women about changes in state pension age, made available
through the Pension Service; direct mailings targeted specifically at women,
Please could you give me the total of the women that was targeted and the
age group which this direct mail was sent specifically at women when it was
sent and to what age group it was sent to, and how was this direct mailing list
created what was it called.
The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pension said:
A 2004 DWP report, Public Awareness of State Pension Age Equalisation,
reported its survey findings that 73% of those aged 45 to 54 at that time—in
2004—were aware of the changes to women’s state pension age.
In addition to this, all those affected by the 1995 Act changes were sent letters
from April 2009 to March 2011 using the address details we had—I admit that
we may not have details for everybody, but what else could we do? It is
therefore difficult for the Government to accept that people did not know that
their state pension age has risen from 60, and it is not accurate to try to
suggest that this is a six-year rise.
The change is a maximum of one and half years.
My freedom of information request: The Minister of State, Department for
Work and Pension said I admit that we may not have details for everybody,
please could you give me details on this subject when a Minister of Sate for
the DWP makes a statement such as this they must have details on a shortfall
of people who were not sent letters otherwise why say it please could you
inform me of how many were not sent letters ?
And it shows that the DWP had missed informing some women to the Act
Changes, I understand that the DWP does not have a legal responsibility to
inform, however as the DWP allredy had set a precedent to inform women of
the pension acts.
My freedom of information request: The Minister of State, Department for
Work and Pension said: In addition to this, all those affected by the 1995 Act
changes were sent letters from April 2009 to March 2011 a person who was
born in 1956 has not that person been effected by the 1995 Act changes ? if
so is the statement “all those affected by the 1995 Act changes were sent
letters from April 2009 to March 2011 “ misleading and wrong ?
House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee Seventh Report of
Session 2015–16 from 14th march 2016
Part of what was written was:
This list was inevitably inaccurate or out-of-date in some cases. Both the
current and previous Pensions Minister acknowledged that some people
would not have received letters.42 Steve Webb told us:
I am sure we missed people.
So if someone says, “I never got a letter,” they are probably telling the truth; I
don’t dispute that.
We did everything we could on the 2011 Act to tell the people affected by that
Act.43
1.
Between October 2012 and November 2013 a further batch of
personalised letters was sent to 4.5 million people born between 6 April 1955
and 5 April 1960, the remainder affected by state pension age changes in the
Pensions Act 2011.36
2.
The oldest members of this group were told at the age of around 57½
that their pension age would be 66.37
Steve Webb made a similar point:
When we wrote to them to tell them about the changes we made in the 2011
Act, which increased pension ages by up to 18 months, for some of them it
was the first time they had heard about the 1995 Act, which increased their
pension age by four and a half years or something like that.
We got the flak for six years of pension rise.39
My freedom of information request: when did the DWP inform women born
after 6th April 1955 to 5th April 1960 of the 1995 Pension Act, not the 2011
Pension Act but the 1995 Act which effected the SPA date, from many DWP
statements the DWP has said “all those affected by the 1995 Act changes
were sent letters from April 2009 to March 2011.
The Equality Act 2010 says you mustn’t be discriminated against because of
your age. Discrimination which is against the Equality Act is unlawful.
The Equality Act says it’s only unlawful discrimination if you’re treated unfairly
because of certain reasons. These reasons are called protected
characteristics. Age is one of the protected characteristics under the Equality
Act.
Age discrimination is where you’re treated unfairly because of your age or
because you’re part of a particular age group.
The Equality Act says it’s only unlawful discrimination if you’re treated unfairly
because of certain reasons. These reasons are called protected
characteristics. Age is one of the protected characteristics under the Equality
Act.
What’s meant by age group? Age group means people of the same age or
people in a particular age range.
If the DWP held back advising the age group born 6th April 1955 to 5th April
1960 of the 1995 Pension Act, but gave that information first to the same age
or people in a particular age range born in the 1950’s the information of the
1995 Pension Act changes, between April 2009 and March 2011, but waited
until January 2012 and November 2013 to inform the same age group born
6th April 1955 to 5th April 1960 of the changes to the 1995 Pension act, this
lack of notice was between 10 months and 22 months that the DWP witheld
this information to the age group born 6th April 1955 to 5th April 1960.
My freedom of information request: would this represent age discrimination
and would then the DWP be commiting Age discrimination where you’re
treated unfairly because of your age or because you’re part of a particular age
group born in the 1950’s.
FOI 0271
Dear B Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 19 January 2018. You asked:
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
A foi from 2015 had said:
DWP Central Freedom of Information Team your Ref: VTR 3235
13/08/2015 a Mr Smulders sent an FOI request which asked Will you please
send me a copy of the letter which was sent out to women born between 6th
April 1950 and 5th April 1960 notifying them of the increase to their State
Pension Age - in accordance with the Freedom of Information Request I
submitted today (2 August 2015) entitled "Notification of increases to the State
Pension Age -1995 Pensions Act
The copy of the letter that the DWP had sent had the signature of a Mr Terry
Moran from the DWP.
Terry Moran had the role of second permanent secretary at the Department
for Work and Pensions he retired early from the civil service in March 2013,
he retired from the department after an extended period of sick leave.
The FOI reply from the DWP had sent this letter to cover women between 6th
April 1950 and 5th April 1960 notifying them of the increase to their State
Pension Age.
However the DWP has said that women born from the 6th Apr 1955 to the 5
Apr 1960 was sent this letter from Oct 2012 –to Nov 2013.
My Freedom of Information Request is :
How could the DWP Central Freedom of Information Team your Ref: VTR
3235 be correct as the person from the DWP Mr Terry Moran retired in March
2013, if this was the letter that went to all women born from the 6th Apr 1955
to the 5 Apr 1960 , it would mean that for eight months after Mr Terry Morgan
had retired the letters would have his name on them.
My Freedom of Information Request is :
When did Terry Moran who had the role of second permanent secretary at the
Department for Work and Pensions retired.
My Freedom of Information Request is :
Please send me copy of letters sent to women born from the 6th Apr 1955 to
the 5 Apr 1960 on the 1995 and the 2011 pension act, from March 2013 to
Nov 2013
Yours faithfully,
B Langton
FOI 0281
Dear B Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 20 January 2018. You asked:
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
From https://publications.parliament.uk
Annex 2: Chronology of official publications regarding changes to state
pension age.
Source: Department for Work and Pensions (USP0162)
It has written :
In December 1993 the DWP had taken action and issued “Equality in State
Pension Age – A Summary of the Changes” leaflet issued to advise the
general public (revised and reissued as EQP1a in February 1996)
In July 1995 The Pensions Act 1995 State Pension estimates were brought up
to date with the latest legislation and reflected the 1995 Act
February 1996 Revised and reissued leaflet EQPla to explain SPa changes to
the public.
These leaflets were sent to the Benefits Agency and would have been
available for our stakeholders to order
From a Freedom of Information request Ref: FoI 4609
Date: 22nd November 2017
Part of the foi request the person asked the DWP
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
Can you provide evidence of notifications you say were sent out and
publications they were advertised in.
I must point out that I personally do not purchase or read magazines and only
briefly flick through newspapers.
I have to say we should have been written to if only in a standard pension
forecast form only then can you say we were actually notified. Which I was not
The DWP response was:
To raise further awareness of State Pension age equalisation under the
Pensions Act 1995, Leaflet EQP1A: ‘Equality in State Pension age – A
summary of the changes’ was issued in July 1995 to advise the general public
on the changes.
My Freedom of Information request is :
How could the DWP issued the Leaflet EQP1a Equality in State Pension Age
in July 1995 to advise the general public on the changes (as set out in the
Freedom of Information request Ref: FoI 4609), when The Pensions Act 1995
was given Royal Assent in July 1995.
In the publications of parliament Chronology of official publications regarding
changes to state pension age it clearly states the date as December 1993 for
the “Equality in State Pension Age – A Summary of the Changes” leaflet
issued to advise the general public, it was only until February 1996 that a
Revised and reissued leaflet EQP1a to explain SPa changes to the public was
available.
My Freedom of Information request is:
It was not until February 1996 when a Revised and reissued leaflet EQPla
was produced, then please advise me which EQP1a leaflet was issued in July
1995.
My Freedom of Information request is:
A Leaflet EQ1A was produced in December 1993 two years before the July
1995 Act, please could you advise me how could the EQP1a have details of
the 1995 Act when it was only in February 1996 that a Revised and reissued
leaflet EQP1a was available, and according to the publications of parliament
Chronology of official publications on the Leaflet EQP1a the only one that was
available before February 1996 was the one from December 1993.
My Freedom of Information request is:
Please could you supply me copies of both the Leaflet EQP1a of 1993 and of
1996.
My Freedom of Information request is:
What date was the issue of the Leaflet EQP1a that the DWP had said was
issued in July 1995 to advise the general public on the changes?
Yours faithfully,
B Langton
FOI 0333
Dear P Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 23 January 2018. You asked:
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
I have recently completed my complaint procedure with the DWP, which is
now with the Independent Case Examiner, the case examiner has said I
would like to remind you that if you wish to provide any further information or
evidence in relation to my complaint, please send it to us and we will ensure it
is considered once the investigation into your complaint starts.
Having read The Civil Service code for the DWP staff Under the Civil Service
values which says ‘honesty’ is being truthful and open ‘objectivity’ is basing
your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence.
Also under the same code Under the Standards of behaviour set out the facts
and relevant issues truthfully, and correct any errors as soon as possible, and
that the DWP staff must not ignore inconvenient facts or relevant
considerations when providing advice or making decisions.
The below are extracts from:
Department of Social Security
Report by the
Comptroller and Auditor General
Ordered by the House of Commons
To be printed 15 March 2000
HC 320 Session 1999-00
March 2000
The Pensions Act 1995 made changes to state pension age.
There is a similar period of time between the passing of the legislation and it
coming into force as with inherited SERPS, with changes not due to take
effect until 2010.
To ensure that staff are aware of the future changes now, the following action
has been taken:
Bulletins have been issued with comprehensive guidance for staff.
My Freedom of Information request is:
Please could you supply me The Bulletins that were issued to staff that had
the comprehensive guidance with regards to the 1995 Pension Act.
A project team has been set up to oversee the publicity over the next 10
years, including major stakeholders from the Department’s Policy Group and
the Benefits Agency.
A communications strategy is being planned with a media campaign taking
place in 2000.
My Freedom of Information request is:
Please could you supply me the details of the communication strategy that
was planned inclusive of the media campaign that was taking place in 2000.
A ‘mystery shopping’ exercise to test local offices’ understanding of the
guidance has been undertaken.
A further bulletin has been issued to give local offices immediate follow-up
information based on the results of this exercise.
My Freedom of Information request is:
Please could you supply me the bulletin that was issued to local offices based
on the results of that exercise.
The Benefits Agency are considering the best means for maintaining staff
awareness over the next 10 years.
We consider all provisions with long lead times should be treated with
Particular care, and plans put in place, covering the implications of the
delayed Implementation; future publicity requirements and timings; reminder
bulletins for staff; and arrangements for monitoring awareness of the provision
amongst staff.
Such arrangements should be considered and agreed upon when the work for
a Particular piece of legislation is finalised.
In January 1995 the project team issued a paper identifying areas where the
successful implementation of the project might be at risk and possible actions
to reduce or remove such risks.
My Freedom of Information request is:
Please could you supply me the issued paper identifying areas of risk and the
actions to reduce or remove such risks especially on the Insufficient public
awareness outlined below.
The risks considered related to:
The timing of the bill and its content.
The timing of implementation.
Conflicts with policy initiatives of other departments.
Understanding of existing law changes.
Problems with the National Insurance Recording System computer.
Insufficient funding available.
Staff and accommodation.
Operational problems in Department of Social Security Headquarters.
Change of Government.
Action by those outside Government.
Insufficient public awareness.
Other risks, including failure to identify all the risks.
The project support team maintained a risk register which was updated for
each Policy Steering Committee meeting and which rated risks and showed
contingency plans for each of them.
Work on contingency continued throughout the project and from early 1996 a
separate group dealing with risks and contingency met after each Pensions
Policy Implementation Board.
The Minister of State replies “The Department arranged publicity about the
Pensions Act 1995 with an advertising and direct mailing campaign in the
Autumn of that year.
Information on the halving of the Additional Pension from the State Earnings-
Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) featured in leaflet PEC3, “The 1995
Pensions Act”, which was part of this campaign and available to the public
until August 1997.
The Benefits Agency supported this campaign in spring 1996 by issuing
leaflet EQP 201, “Changes to Your Future”, to answer simple inquiries about
changes arising from the Pensions Act 1995.
My Freedom of Information request is:
Please could you supply me a copy of leaflet EQP201.
Pensions Act 1995 receives Royal Assent, proposing to phase in a state
pension age for women at 65 (equalising it with that for men)
I believe that The Department (DWP) do not have a duty to provide
information on benefits or changes in the law.
However, when they decide to provide such information, they have a common
law duty of care to those likely to read the information that they publish in their
leaflets and other literature, and an obligation to take reasonable care to
ensure that information is complete and correct.
They can expect members of the public to rely on it.
My Freedom of Information request is:
To raise further awareness of the state pension age equalisation under the
Pensions Act 1995, in July 1995 the department issued leaflet EQP1a,
Equality in State Pension Age: A Summary of Changes, to advise the general
public on the changes, did this leaflet had missing information in it with
regards to the 1995 Pension Act as no record of the leaflet being printed in
1995, I can only see that in 1993 and in 1996 that the EQP1a leaflet was
printed 2 years before the 1995 Act and 1 year after the 1995 Act.
Yours faithfully,
P Langton
FOI 0365
Dear P Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 25 January 2018. You asked:
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
I have recently completed my complaint procedure with the DWP, which is
now with the Independent Case Examiner, the case examiner has said I
would like to remind you that if you wish to provide any further information or
evidence in relation to my complaint, please send it to us and we will ensure it
is considered once the investigation into your complaint starts.
From The Citywire Money > News by William Robins on Sep 12, 2016 at
09:14
Ros Altman Previous office: Minister of State, Department for Work and
Pensions (2015–2016) she had said:
In a question to the government Altmann asked how many women born in the
1950s received automated pension forecasts in the years 2003 to 2006.
She also asked how many of that number were also sent the official 'PM6'
leaflet: Pensions for Women – Your Guide.
The reply from the minister of state for the Department for Work and Pensions
(DWP), David Freud, was that ‘the information requested is not available’.
My Freedom of Information request is:
How many of 'PM6' leaflet: Pensions for Women – Your Guide have been
printed between 2003 to 2006 if you cannot give the answer to how many
have been given out, then can you advise me of how many have been printed
between 2003 to 2006?
My Freedom of Information request is:
How did the DWP inform Women born in the 1950’s of how to get hold of this
Guide called A Quick Guide to State Pensions? What was the communication
process by the DWP to Women born in the 1950’s that this Guide was
available?
My Freedom of Information request is:
Pensions were for Women Your Guide PM6 how was it marketed towards
Women in other words how did you tell Women born in the 1950’s are how to
get or find it?
To find out more about the State Pension age for women, please see
Pensions for women – Your guide (PM6) is written in the Guide called A Quick
Guide to State Pensions but you had to know this existed to see that the PM6
was available, printed in August 2004.
My Freedom of Information request is:
How was the A Quick Guide to State Pensions given to Women born in the
1950’s what process did the DWP undertake to promote this Guide?
In the details it states this guide is for guidance only, It is not a complete
statement of the law, what does this statement means? Does it means it’s a
part statement of the Law?
Yours faithfully,
P Langton
FOI 2638
Dear Mrs P Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 5 June 2018. You
asked:
“Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
Below are two copy foi requests that were replied to by yourselves DWP
which shows a large discrepancy on when the DWP have said that they had
sent out letters to a cohort of 1950's women to inform them of changes to
pensions, this information is misleading and brings into doubt that the DWP
has not given correct information to the government or indeed the 1950's
women.
Wwhy is their a 8 month discrepancy on when the DWP has said that they
had sent out letters to inform women born between 06/04/52 to 05/10/52 and
06/10/52 to 05/04/53 s could you advise what documentation did both the
DWP Central Freedom of Information Team used in both the Foi requests
reference number Fol 3344 and reference VTR3730, and why is a vast
discrepancy on the date that the DWP had said they sent letters to the same
cohort of Women to inform them of the pension changes, as this is central to
the 1950’s women cause that they had not been told of the changes in light of
such a vast misinformation from the DWP what internal action would you
undertake from your own evidence from the below FOI responses taken
directly from the DWP FOI.
My Freedom of Information Request please confirm which is the correct dates
and why was misinformation given from the same department the DWP on
such an important question, My Freedom of information is if this was already
identified what internal review was under taken and what documentation could
I view in light of my complaints which is now with the Independent Case
Examiner.”
FOI 3087
Dear Ms P Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 10 July 2018. You
asked:
“Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
I was born in December 1956.
I was 38 years old when the 1995 Pension Act had Royal Assent.
I would have had an SPA of 60 before the Pensions Act 1995 and would have
reached retirement in 2016.
The Pensions Act 1995 received Royal Assent on 19 July 1995.
Part II relates to state pensions and includes section 126 for the equalisation
of the state pension age.
Part I has effect to equalise pensionable age for men and women
progressively over a period of ten years beginning with 6th April 2010.
Mr FOI Requsts are simple and would like a simple answer without sending
me graphs or reports etc, or information that does not answer my direct and
simple questions.
Having seen dates from previous FOI (By Month and Year) of some of the
1950’s women requests which the DWP had reportely sent direct letters to
them informing them of The Pensions Act 1995 I cannot find any information
on when that same information/Letter was sent to the 1956 Women who are
the same cohort of Women who has been effected by this Act.
I am fully aware from other FOI Requests that for individuals with a date of
birth 6 Apr 1955 to 5 Apr 1960 letters were issued between Oct 2012 and
Nov 2013, However it does not give any clear evidence that the DWP did
indeed inform me directly of The Pensions Act of 1995.
This is why my FOI request is clear and plain, it should not be replied to by
previous FOI such as – Examples of the letters sent to individuals can be
found in the Work and Pensions Select Committee report, the link to which is
below;
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmworpen/899/899.
pdf
This type of reply would not give me any answers to requests, or indeed if you
send Examples of the letters, such information does not give me what was
reportedly sent to me, I am only interested in which letter when and what were
the content related to me and me only not any others.
My FOI Requst is: What date by month and year did the DWP send me a
direct Letter informing me of ONLY of The Pensions Act of 1995.
My FOI Request is: What date by month and year did the DWP send me a
direct Letter informing me of ONLY The Pension Act of 2011.
My FOI Request is: What date by month and year did the DWP send me a
direct Letter informing me of both The Pension Act of 1995 and 2011.
My FOI Request is: Women who were born in Dec 1956 were they excluded
from the DWP mailing to inform them of the 1995 Pension Act, YES or No?
The DWP had said that for previous FOI they had notified women born in the
1950’s of the Pension Changes and of the number of letters sent, however
from the 6 Apr 1955 to 5 Apr 1960 the date the DWP said that they notified
was Oct 2012 to Nov 2013.
My FOI Request is: What year did the DWP sent the letter informing me of
any Pension Changes was it 2012 or 2013?
The DWP was mailing certain groups to inform them of the 1995 Pension Act
to Women born prior to 5 Apr 1953, this is found on many FOI Requests.
My FOI Request is: Was it ONLY this group of Women prior to 5 Apr 1953
that were sent direct letters informing them of the changes to the 1995
Pension who were affected by the 1995 Pension Act.?
You may send a standard Response such as – There is no information
requested here that can be provided under the Freedom of Information Act,
which I would presume that you would not have the information to give!
This would indeed be very odd as it was the DWP that implemented the
changes and to reply in such a manner to very simple questions suggests that
you could not tell me what action you took directly with me, and such
responses lay doubt on if any actions such as informing me directly of any
Acts were ever undertaken.
Yours faithfully,
P Langton”
FOI 3364
Dear B Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 30 July 2018. You
asked
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
I have taken details from what the DWP have said on some responses from
FOI requests and would like some answers from you and your Department,
hopefully you will not say it too much to find this information and it goes over
the £600 limit which you often say, the FOI Requests which I have asked will
be sent to ICE who have my complaint on file.
Between 2003-2006, the Department issued around 16 million unprompted
products called Automatic Pension Forecasts (APFs). One of the leaflets that
accompanied the APF letter contained information about State Pension age,
including how it was increasing for women as a consequence of State
Pension age equalisation.
My FOI Request Please could you show me a copy of this leaflet.
According to the DWP Data Retention Policy guidance and leaflets (external)
the Retention period is 20 years.
DWP ran a pensions education campaign in 2004, which included informing
people of the future equalisation of State Pension age and our current
campaign – State Pension, Know the Facts encourages people to check their
State Pension age using our online calculator, and request a forecast of how
much they are likely to receive.
The campaign included:
• Advertising features in the press and women’s magazines
My FOI Request Please could you show me all the copies of the Advertising
features in the press and women's magazines, and Press releases, According
to the DWP Data Retention Policy Press releases ,Promotional materials
(external), Proactive communications and Public Notices the Retention period
is 20 years.
• A ‘Women’s Pensions Pack’ containing leaflets for women about changes in
State Pension age, made available through the Pensions Service.
My FOI Request please show me all the leaflets which you have said in the
Women's Pension Pack, According to the DWP Data Retention Policy
guidance and leaflets (external) the Retention period is 20 years.
• Direct mailings targeted specifically at women highlighting that women’s
SPA is changing
• Sending State Pension forecast letters and accompanying leaflet showing
the person’s SPa and explaining who is affected by the changes to women’s
SPa (issued to those who requested them)
My FOI Request please show me the accompany leaflet, showing the
person’s SPa and explaining who is affected by the changes to women’s SPa
According to the DWP Data Retention Policy guidance and leaflets (external)
the Retention period is 20 years.
DWP ran a pensions education campaign in 2004, which included informing
people of the future equalisation of State Pension age. The pensions’
education campaign ran in waves from January 2001 until February 2004 and
included informing people of the future equalisation of State Pension age. The
objectives were to make people aware of the importance of planning for their
retirement and to inform them of the information available to help them plan
their options.
The campaign used TV and press advertising, and direct marketing.
One of the press adverts was specifically about the equalisation of State
Pension age and was featured in women’s magazines and national
newspaper supplements.
My FOI Request Please could you tell me what were the campaign details
used on TV , and Press releases inclusive of the press adverts used from
January 2001 until February 2004, According to the DWP Data Retention
Policy Press releases ,Promotional materials (external), Proactive
communications and Public Notices the Retention period is 20 years.
The pensions’ education campaign ran in waves from January 2001 until
February 2004.
The objectives were to make people aware of the importance of planning for
their retirement and to inform them of the information available to help them
plan their options. The campaign used TV and press advertising, and direct
marketing.
One of the press adverts was specifically about the equalisation of State
Pension age and was featured in women’s magazines and national
newspaper supplements.
Other awareness raising activity included advertorials in women’s and TV
listings magazines in March 2000.
My FOI Request Please could you tell me what were the advertorials in
women and TV listing magazines in March 2000, According to the DWP Data
Retention Policy Press releases ,Promotional materials (external), Proactive
communications and Public Notices the Retention period is 20 years.
FOI 2018/00966
Dear Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 4 August. You
asked:
“ From a recent DWP freedom of Information request number Fol 0533 Date:
02/03/2018.
The question was What Dates/Times/Channels was the TV advert shown re
women’s pension age hike?
The DWP Response was
The Department did not use TV advertising in relation to the increases in
women’s State Pension age.
From a House of Commons Publication
Communication of changes 15 Mar 2016
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmworpen/899/8990
6.htm
10. We asked the DWP for a chronology of official communications regarding
state pension age changes and for examples of those communications. These
are shown in Annexes 2 and 3 respectively.
1995–2009: information on request
11. Until 2009, direct communication with people affected by increases in
state pension age was very limited. Leaflets explaining the changes were
available from the Benefits Agency from 1995 and accompanied any state
pension forecasts that were requested.24 The Department told us that 11.5
million state pension statements have been issued on request since April
2000.25 These included the date (but until recently, not the age) at which the
individual was due to reach state pension age under the legislation at that
point.26 Between 2001 and 2004 the DWP ran a broad pensions education
campaign which incorporated state pension age equalisation:
The pensions education campaign ran in waves and used TV and press
advertising, and direct marketing. One of the press adverts in 2004 was
specifically about the equalisation of State Pension age and was featured in
women’s magazines and national newspaper supplements.27
12. Between 2004 and 2006, the Department issued around 16 million
unprompted letters, known as Automatic Pension Forecasts, projecting state
pension entitlements, including to women aged over 50.28 This forecast did
not include any details of state pension age, or mention that state pension age
was changing. Lin Phillips, a WASPI representative, told us:
I received [an Automatic Pension Forecast] in 2005 and it just said, “Based on
today’s state pension rate, this is what you will receive when you retire”.
Nowhere in that letter did it say, “You will retire on this date”.29
On the above House of Commons Communications and awareness report the
DWP had responded to the questions and had said “The pensions education
campaign ran in waves and used TV and press advertising, and direct
marketing”
My Freedom of Information Request on the statement that the DWP gave to
the House of Commons is it correct that the DWP did used TV advertising
when on the Fol 0533 Date: 02/03/2018 the DWP had said that The
Department did not use TV advertising in relation to the increases in women’s
State Pension age, which is correct and which response is not true, perhaps
rather than asking this question rather that requesting recorded information, I
should be asking you to provide recorded information that best answer the the
question, how did the DWP come up with two different answers to the same
question what information did the DWP use to make misleading information
given to the House of Commons and to the Women Born in the 1950’s?
A Freedom of Information Response number FOI3001 date 07/11/2016 one of
the questions was “Were letters sent directly to those women who are
affected by the pension hike?”
Part of the response by the DWP to the question was “The campaign used TV
and press advertising, and direct marketing”.
My Freedom of Information Request on the response that the DWP gave to
the freedom of information number FOI3001 dated 07/11/2016 that “The
campaign used TV and press advertising, and direct marketing”, when on the
Fol 0533 Date: 02/03/2018 the DWP had said that The Department did not
use TV advertising in relation to the increases in women’s State Pension age,
which is correct and which response is not true, both again are misleading
and I would like you the DWP explain why you have given two different
answers to the same question.
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmworpen/899/899.
pdf
15 Mar 2016 - Work and Pensions Committee. Communication of state
pension age changes.
Seventh Report of Session 2015–16.
Survey evidence
1.A 2004 DWP survey asked working age adults about awareness of state
pension age equalisation. It found that, among respondents who were aware
of the reforms, television (47%) and newspapers (37%) were the main
sources of information. The DWP or the Pension Service, part of the
Department, were cited by just 2%.52
2.That survey gave a mixed picture of awareness levels. Almost three-
quarters (73%) of female correspondents in the cohort set to be affected by
equalisation were aware of it. Of those affected women, however, only 43%
were aware of their own state pension age being65 or between 60 and 65.
The DWP report commented:
This low figure provides cause for concern and shows that information about
the increase in SPA is not reaching the group of individuals who arguably
have the greatest need to be informed.
Furthermore, awareness of own state pension age was lower in certain
groups, including economically inactive women and those in routine and
manual occupations.53
The response that the DWP gave to The Work and Pensions Committee.
Communication of state pension age changes dated 15/03/2016 that A 2004
DWP survey asked working age adults about awareness of state pension age
equalisation.
It found that, among respondents who were aware of the reforms, television
(47%) and newspapers (37%) were the main sources of information.
If 47% of the respondents found the information of the reforms from television
highlighted in the DWP survey, does the statement The Department did not
use TV advertising in relation to the increases in women’s State Pension age
apply or was it on TV by accident.
My Freedom of Information Request
Did the DWP forward any TV Station any press releases for state pension age
changes?
Please could you send me copies of Any DWP Press releases with regards to
state pension age changes in line with your 20 years retention period on any
press releases?
The Freedom of Information Act gives any person the legal right of access to
any and all recorded information which is held by a public authority.
The Department of Social Security Pensions had a Pension Commercial:
called Chasing Tail you can see this at
https://www.hatads.org.uk/catalogue/record/a78ecc31-8c6a-4bb5-af59-
9668dce922e2
It shows a dog chasing its tail a women voice over says Confused about your
pension options then call for the Government impartial guide.
This was put out by the Department of Social Security on the film you can see
the leaflet at the end of this short film it says A Guide to your Pension Options.
My research on this Guide it is reference PM1 my understanding it has
between pages 24 to 28 of this guide has set out other things that could affect
your pension it listed change to the state pension age for women.
On the Fol 0533 Date: 02/03/2018 the DWP had said that The Department did
not use TV advertising in relation to the increases in women’s State Pension
age, The Guide PM1 listed change to the state pension age for women,
therefore the DWP Foi 0533 is very misleading and is a clear case of
Malministration by the DWP.
DWP published a revised introductory 34page guide in July 2001 called 'a
guide to your pension options' (leaflet/guide PM1 — first published in June
1998).
My Freedom of Information Request
Please could you send me a copy of this Guide 2000/2001 the date of the film
is marked as 2000/2001 well within your 20 years retention period on any
press releases and TV Adverts?”
FOI 2018/01058
Dear Mrs B Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 7 August. You
asked:
I have read that the DWP had sent out letters to a certain group of Women to
inform them of changes to the state pension between January 2012 and
November 2013, please could you answer the below FOI on the questions set
out below, if you have links to this information I would appreciate them in part
answering them, however not being employed by the DWP I would not have
the training to under stand any links such as your internal Retention
Procedure and would request a direct time limit/answer to the request as set
out below.
January 2012 and November 2013
Source: Department for Work and Pensions (USP0162)
Following the Pensions Act 2011, DWP wrote to all those directly affected by
the changes (born 6 April 1953 to 5 April 1960) to inform them of the change
to their State Pension age.
This involved mailing more than 5million letters to those affected.
Using then current address details held by HMRC
My Freedom of Information Requests are:
When did the DWP request the current address detail from the HMRC (HM
Revenue & Customs) in order to mail the letters to the people born (6 April
1953 to 5 April 1960) ie what date was the request and what date did the
DWP use it.
What method did HMRC sent this information to the DWP.
Do the DWP still hold this information on file?
What is the DWP retention period of this information?
What is the DWP procedure to show proof of posting that this information was
sent out, such as proof of delivery if the letters to the people (born 6 April
1953 to 5 April 1960) was posted was by the Royal Mail.
Was this action to send out the letters to the people (born 6 April 1953 to 5
April 1960) done by the DWP or by a third party, if not by the DWP but a third
party who was it.
Does the DWP have a procedure in place to follow up letters return not
delivered, how many letters were not delivered.
Did the DWP follow the retention and destruction periods on the letters sent
out to the people (born 6 April 1953 to 5 April 1960) Please could you forward
me them?
How the letters were chronological sent out between January 2012 and
November 2013 to the people (born 6 April 1953 to 5 April 1960) as an
example were they sent out in birth date order or men before women etc, or
post code area.
My understanding that you cannot supply a copy of the original letters
showing the name and address as the retention period has passed, please
could you tell me when was this retention period of the on the letters sent out
to the people (born 6 April 1953 to 5 April 1960).
Please could you send me just the copy of the template letter and any leaflets
which were sent to women who was born in Dec 1954 that informs them of
changes to the state pension?
FOI 2018/01982
Dear Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 20 August. You
asked:
From a FOI request from the 1st September 2017 one of the questions was:
Your Ref: FoI 3344, DATE: 1 September 2017
"DWP also ran a pensions education campaign in 2004, which included
informing people of the future equalisation of State Pension Age.
The campaign included:
- Advertising features in the press and women's magazines.
- A 'Women's Pensions Pack' containing leaflets for women about changes in
SPA, made available through the Pensions Service.
- Direct mailings targeted specifically at women highlighting that women's SPA
is changing’
Please specify exactly which magazine and newspaper titles hosted these
advertising features, and please give dates. What did these adverts say?
The DWP response was:
You have requested details in relation to the advertising features in the press
and women’s magazines as part of the pensions education campaign which I
am unable to respond to as the information you have requested is not held.
My Freedom of information requests are:
What is the DWP retention period for this information as I am led to believe
that the DWP retention period for press releases which covers advertising
features in the press and women’s magazines is 20 years, is the DWP
response to this FOI “I am unable to respond to as the information you have
requested is not held. “Is wrong and that the DWP had not followed the rule
set out in retention periods.
FOI 2018/02416
Dear Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 25 August. You
asked:
From a recent DWP freedom of Information request number Fol 0533 Date:
02/03/2018.
The question was What Dates/Times/Channels was the TV advert shown re
women’s pension age hike?
The DWP Response was
The Department did not use TV advertising in relation to the increases in
women’s State Pension age.
I have never seem myself any TV advertising in relation to the increases in
women’s State Pension age, and I would have to accept the DWP response in
the Fol 0533 date 02/03/18, However subject to under covering the piece
below it seems that the DWP response seems to incorrect and misleading, it
is breath-taking that the DWP had not on record such information, as it is the
DWP own retention period of 20 years for press releases.
I did not see any adverts on TV in relation to the increases in women’s State
Pension age, and the DWP had said they never used TV for advertising in
relation to the increases in women’s State Pension age, it goes to show even
the DWP does not know what had gone on with regards to informing the
cohort of women born in the 1950’s.
From as far back as 17/08/2015 on this foi DWP Central Freedom of
Information Team
e-mail: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx
Our Ref: VTR3231
The DWP had said to the questions that:
The pensions’ education campaign ran in waves from January 2001 until
February 2004.
The objectives were to make people aware of the importance of planning for
their retirement and to inform them of the information available to help them
plan their options. The campaign used TV and press advertising, and direct
marketing.
One of the press adverts was specifically about the equalisation of State
Pension age and was featured in women’s magazines and national
newspaper supplements.
Yet The Department said from a recent DWP freedom of Information request
number Fol 0533 Date: 02/03/2018, it did not use TV advertising in relation to
the increases in women’s State Pension age.
From the DWP Archived on 5th Jan 2004 press release 11th Jan 2001 called
“ Pension Awareness Ad Blitz Begins”
Some of the extracts are set out below:
Mans best friend has taken the lead in a new Government campaign to get
people to think about planning for their pensions.
Using Oscar-winning techniques that brought ‘Babe’ to life the £6.5 million
marketing campaign aims to make people aware of the need to plan for their
retirement and consider all the pension options available to them.
Launching the campaign Alistair Darling, Social Security Secretary, said
“Obviously the basic state pension will remain the foundation of income
retirement.
The adverts are humorous and clever and the use of real-life working dogs
talking should grab people attention and get them thinking about the options
to save for their retirement, “said Mr Darling.
The campaign, which includes which includes TV, press and cinema
advertising.
The ad campaign aims to raise awareness, it will also carry some specific
messages , including the fact that women state pension age is changing
between 2010 and 2020 when it will be equalised at the age of sixty five.
Yet The Department said from a recent DWP freedom of Information request
number Fol 0533 Date: 02/03/2018, it did not use TV advertising in relation to
the increases in women’s State Pension age.
My Freedom of information requests are:
Please could you acknowledge that the DWP had not told given the correct
information on the freedom of Information request number Fol 0533 Date:
02/03/2018, when it said that it did not use TV advertising in relation to the
increases in women’s State Pension age.
If no acknowledge is available of the DWP blunder/mistake, please could you
send me the procedure for taking up a complaint of wrong information given
by the DWP on a foi requests.
My Freedom of information requests are:
Please could you send me copies of the ad campaign that was Launched by
Alistair Darling the Social Security Secretary 11th January 2001 that aims to
raise awareness, it will also carry some specific messages , including the fact
that women state pension age is changing between 2010 and 2020 when it
will be equalised at the age of sixty five, as the DWP retention period for
Press Releases are 20 years.
My Freedom of information requests are:
Where from did the DWP obtain the information from the recent DWP freedom
of Information request number Fol 0533 Date: 02/03/2018, it did not use TV
advertising in relation to the increases in women’s State Pension age.
How many other people have been told that the DWP did not use TV
advertising in relation to the increases in women’s State Pension age.
Please could you send me a copy of the assessment carried by the Foi team
when they had said the DWP did not use TV advertising in relation to the
increases in women’s State Pension age?
FOI 2018/02421
Dear Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 27 August. You
asked:
The Foi reference: FoI 2939
Date: 09 August 2017
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 12 July 2017.
You asked would you please send me any copies of letters sent out to me
regarding the changes in State Pension age for women born between 6 April
1950 and 5th April 1960.
DWP Response:
Letters were sent using the latest address information held by HMRC at that
time. We don’t hold personalised copies of the letters that were issued to
individuals, regarding the changes in State Pension age for women born
between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1960.
The automated system of issuing such letters to individuals doesn’t record a
copy on the individuals file, and we are unable to provide a copy of the
original letter.
From a Freedom of information request reference: FoI 271 Date: 8 February
2018.
My Freedom of Information Request is: Please send me copy of letters sent to
women born from the 6th Apr 1955 to the 5 Apr 1960 on the 1995 and the
2011 pension act, from March 2013 to Nov 2013
The DWP response was: Copies of these letters are attached.
Five copies of letters were attached.
Four of the letters were that of a template.
However the first letter was dated April 2010 the address was covered
over/blanked out and the name was also covered over/blanked out, protecting
their personal information.
This letter was not a template letter; the DWP has said that they are unable to
provide a copy of the original letters that they had sent to Women informing
them of the Pension changes.
The DWP had also said we don’t hold personalised copies of the letters that
were issued to individuals, regarding the changes in State Pension age for
women born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1960.
From a Recent Foi FO12018/01058 Dated 21st August 2018 The DWP was
asked:
My understanding that you cannot supply a copy of the original letters
showing the name and address, please tell me what was the retention period.
The DWP response was:
The Department retention period specifically for customer data relating to
direct mailing is 2 months.
Yet here is a blanked out letter with a date of April 2010 sent to the request for
the FoI 271 Date: 8 February 2018.
I am no expert but the blanked out name and that of the address would not
cover up the template details as they are too big, I could only conclude that it
is an original letter that the DWP had said cannot be produced.
My Freedom of information request are:
Please could you confirm that this letter from the FoI 271 Date: 8 February
2018, is not a Template letter or that it was an original letter.
When and where was this letter produced from if we are led to believe what
the DWP have said they are unable to produce personal letters for Women
who were affected by the 1995 and the 2011 Pension Act?
Do you still have this sample letter in your archive?
This letter was sent to full fill a previous Foi Request, please forward again the
copy to this Foi.
FOI 2018/02610
Dear Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 30 August. You
asked:
On a recent face book notice the below information was placed on the face
book site which had said:
You can find it on https://hat4uk.wordpress.com/2018/03/22/waspi-explosive-
cheated-pensioner-exposes-2004-leaflet-confirming-2020-as-year-when-
female-spa-to-
WASPI EXPLOSIVE: Cheated pensioner exposes 2004 leaflet CONFIRMING
2020 as year when female SPA to rise.
From a Government’s Quick Guide to Pensions from 2004
The person said :he ramifications of this are enormous:
1.It shows that fully nine years after 1950s born women were “told” of their
pension ages rising (which was itself as clear a breaking of promise as you’ll
find in the pension provision sector) official Government leaflets were still
saying that women had until 2020 to prepare for the SPA rise.
2.This gave the women affected sixteen years to prepare for medium term
saving as a stopgap, and kept the age rise at 65. Not one single female born
between 1951 and 1959 would’ve been affected at all……that was what they
“knew” in 2004.
Citizens should be able to rely on the accuracy and completeness of
Information provided by Government departments.
This is particularly true in the case of pensions, where citizens need to plan
ahead, and where, without reliable information, they may make personal
decisions that are not in their best interests.
The DWP seem to have failed to publicise a change in the law And gave
misleading information to the public in this leaflet
Government departments do not have a duty to provide information on
changes in the law, but where they do issue such material, they have a legal
responsibility to ensure that it is accurate and complete.
My freedom of information requests are:
When did the DWP notice that this Government leaflet was still saying that
women had until 2020 to prepare for the SPA rise?
How many of this incorect information leaflet was sent out by the DWP?
When was this leaflet withdrawed by the DWP? And who alerted the
Department to the fact that the DWP was giving incorrect information to
citizens.
Can you supply a copy of this incorect leaflet?
Can you supply a copy of any updated leaflet? And when it was produced.
What action have the Government/ DWP taken since discovering the error?
From a Report by the
Comptroller and Auditor General Department of Social Security
State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme:
The failure to inform the public of reduced pension rights for widows and
widowers HC 320 Session 1999–00 Published March 2000
The Department failed to publicise a change in the law and gave misleading
information to the public for more than a decade.
18 In the light of the events described in this report, we have identified a
0number of areas where action should be taken, or where existing
developments within the Department should be completed as soon as
possible. Making effective improvements in these areas should help to ensure
that similar events do not occur again
c) given the potential consequences of incorrect and incomplete leaflets, this
arearemains high risk, and we suggest that the Department’s Internal Audit
Service undertake a regular review to ensure that the new arrangements for
ensuring complete and accurate leaflets are being implemented effectively
(paragraph 3.14);
With regards to Quick Guide to Pensions from 2004
My Freedom of Information are:
Did the Internal Audit Service undertake a regular review to ensure that the
new arrangements for ensuring complete and accurate leaflets are being
implemented effectively especially on the Quick Guide to Pensions from 2004
prior to it being printed.
FOI 2018/01917
Dear P Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 18 August. You
asked:
“One of my questions was:
My Freedom of Information Request is what version was the leaflet in the
Womens Pension Pack, please could you sent me a copy of this leaflet, is this
leaflet on the Content Management System which according to National Audit
Office Department for Work and Pensions hold details of all the leaflets and
information products across government departments containing references
to pension’s information.
The DWP Response was – The leaflet issued with the Women’s Pension
Pack was the ‘Women’s guide to Pensions’ (PM6), printed in 2000 and
updated or reprinted in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Due to the time elapsed the
Department only holds the 2004 version which is attached to this response.
My freedom of information request today is
Why you have said the Department only holds the 2004 version when the
DWP retention period for external leaflets is 20 years, please could you
explain what the DWP retention period for the above leaflets is?
Please send my copies of ‘Women’s guide to Pensions’ (PM6), printed in
2000 and updated or reprinted in 2002, 2003 in line with the DWP 20 year
retention period for external leaflets.
Also on the same foi request FoI 0073 I asked the DWP the below:
From the DWP I received a letter from Mark Fairbain Complaint Resolution
Manager date 3rd March 2017 which he had written a reply to my complaint
he said You also complained about the accuracy of information provided and
you specifically mention a government website which still had a 60 as the
State Pension age for women as recently as February this year. We did
indeed become aware of incorrect information on a Government Gateway
web page and we corrected the information within 24 Hours.
My Freedom of Information Request is Mr Mark Fairbain Complaint
Resolution Manager had confirmed from my letter from him date 3rd Mrch
2017 that a government website which still had a 60 as the State Pension age
for women as recently as February this year, Please could you forward me the
details of the Government Website that still had a 60 as the State Pension
age for women as recently as February this year?
The DWP reply was:
Response – Thank you for drawing our attention to the letter dated March
2017; this letter should have stated the information had been found to be
incorrect at February 2016. This letter is in the process of being updated.
The Department for Work and Pensions has been made aware of incorrect
information on a Government Gateway web page in the past and this
information was corrected.
My Freedom of information request today is:
My letter that was sent by your Mr Fairbain Complaint Resolution Manager the
result from me following the DWP complaints procedure, you have said that
“This letter is in the process of being updated”
Please could you tell me the date of this updated letter.
When it was done.
When it was sent.
Please send me a copy of it, in order that I can have it for my complaint
records which are now with ICE.
Surely if the letter was being updated then the updated letter should come
back to me, the original letter which was sent to me from following the DWP
complaint procedure you the DWP have acknowledge that your Mr Fairbain
Complaint Resolution Manager had written back to me was found to be
incorrect in the information that he gave, I found it misleading and still await
this updated letter.
It has now been almost 1 year 5 month since Mr Fairbain Complaint
Resolution Manager sent the original letter, and over 5 months waiting for my
updated letter”.
FOI 2018/02418
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 24th September
2018. You asked:
In a Foi Request your reference Fol 0073 Date 02/03/2018 the DWP had
responded:
Thank you for drawing our attention to the letter dated March 2017; this letter
should have stated the information ad been found to be incorrect at February
2016.
This letter is in the process of being updated.
The Department for Work and Pensions has been made aware of incorrect
information on a Government Gateway web page in the past and this
information was corrected.
The letter was from Mr Mark Fairbain Complaint Resolution Manager and the
date of the letter was 3rd March 2017.
On the 18th of August 2018 I had sent a follow up Fol request on this subject
which is almost 1 year 5 months since Mr Faibain Complaint Resolution
Manager had sent the original letter, and over 5 months waiting for my
updated letter.
Because of the statement by the DWP in the Fol 0073 Date 02/03/2018 that
“This letter is in the process of being updated ” I had to ask a series of
questions as it was now over 5 months waiting for a updated letter.
The Fol requests were When was it done, when was it sent, please send me a
copy of it, as yet I am waiting for the Fol to be answered.
Normally I would wait for a answer from a Fol, but due to further information
gathered it is found that the DWP has made this mistake to others and have
not seem to correct it in a timely manner.
When I sent off my letters of complaint to the DWP I was led to believe that
the correspondence returned would have been directed at my own complaints
but it seems to be that of a standard query letter because the DWP mistake
as set above has been sent to others who also had made complaints to the
DWP.
In the letter that I had received on the 3rd March 2017 from Mark Fairbain
Complaint Resolution Manager, he evens states that You had complained that
you did not receive a personalised response to your first letter, I can assure
you that we are taking your complaint seriously and I apologise if you felt that
we did not deal with your previous correspondence in an appropriate manner.
I hope that this letter addresses your concerns.
Well it was found that it was not personnel response as many parts of it
seems to be pasted and copied which had communicated a massive mistake
to many hundreds or even thousands of Women who followed the DWP
complaints procedure, who await this to corrected.
From a Twitter notice from the back to 60 a Kay Watson @kayWats_4Yes
had said
DWP admit in a letter I received around August 2017 that incorrect
information still showing on gov gateway site in Feb 2017 they say it was
“temporarily out of date”
In the same twitter this person has showed a snap shot of the DWP letter it is
the same content world for word to what Mr Mark Fairbain Complaint
Resolution Manager had sent to me and the date of the letter was 3rd March
2017.
This shows clearly that the DWP had not taken any corrective action from my
original conformation of the facts of the letter in my Fol 0073 Date 02/03/2018.
It seems that the DWP was still sending out incorrect information in August
2017.
And up to 02/03/2018 the DWP had said that “This letter is in the process of
being updated.
Yet up to today 26/08/2018 I have not received the updated letter.
It seems that according to the time line that the DWP had confirmed in not
sending out a corrected letter this misinformation by the DWP has been
continued for 17 Months.
My Freedom of Information requests are:
How many complaints had the DWP had in connection to not receive
adequate notice of changes to the State Pension Age (Spa) I notice that ICE
had place this group of Women as (Waspi)
My Freedom of Information requests are:
How many complaints had ICE had in connection to not receive adequate
notice of changes to the State Pension Age (Spa) ICE had place this group of
Women as (Waspi)
My Freedom of Information requests are:
How many of the complaint letters sent out by the DWP had placed the wrong
information which you had alluded to in your response in the Fol 0073 Date
02/03/2018 which you had said:
Thank you for drawing our attention to the letter dated March 2017; this letter
should have stated the information ad been found to be incorrect at February
2016. This letter is in the process of being updated.
My Freedom of Information requests are:
In your statement in the Fol 0073 Date 02/03/2018 which you had said: Thank
you for drawing our attention to the letter dated March 2017; this letter should
have stated the information ad been found to be incorrect at February 2016.
This letter is in the process of being updated.
How many of the updated letters have you sent out to the people who
received this incorrect information by the DWP.
My Freedom of Information requests are:
Many of the letters that the DWP have been sent with this wrong information
is with ICE, will the DWP be advising ICE of this misleading information or do
the people who are waiting for their letter which according to the Fol 0073
Date 02/03/2018 is being updated send this copy outlining the mistake of the
DWP.
FOI 2018/04490
Dear Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 24
September 2018. You asked
The DWP had said if you have any queries about this letter please contact me
quoting the reference number above.
I have many queries but I shall pass them onto ICE in my on going
Complaints, as it is plain that because of you stated limits you are unwilling to
pursue my original FOI Request.
Below are the details of a Freedom of Information request in which you had
said As this question on its own has exceeded the costs limit for FOI
Requests all the response has therefore exceeded the cost limit.
Therefore I will request a Freedom of Information requests which should not
exceed the cost limit for FOI Requests and they are not been asked in the
original refused FOI,I will await your response.
In a Foi Request your reference Fol 0073 Date 02/03/2018 the DWP had
responded:
Thank you for drawing our attention to the letter dated March 2017; this letter
should have stated the information ad been found to be incorrect at February
2016.
This letter is in the process of being updated.
The Department for Work and Pensions has been made aware of incorrect
information on a Government Gateway web page in the past and this
information was corrected.
The letter was from Mr Mark Fairbain Complaint Resolution Manager and the
date of the letter was 3rd March 2017.
On the 18th of August 2018 I had sent a follow up Fol request on this subject
which is almost 1 year 7 months since Mr Faibain Complaint Resolution
Manager had sent the original letter.
My Freedom of Information Request is:
Will the DWP be sending me a corrected letter as they had said This letter is
in the process of being updated.
My Freedom of Information Request is:
What is the written proceedure for the DWP to follow when it is found that a
document that was sent out by the DWP had incorrect and misleading
information.
My Freedom of Information Request is:
When you reply back to a Freedom of Information Request and you say we
estimate that the cost of complying with your request would exceed the
appropriate limit for central Government, set by regulations at £600.
Does this apply to any request by the Independent Case Examiner?
Or do they obtain the information that is restricted by the above DWP
statement.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Central Freedom of Information Team
[email address]
Our reference: FOI2018/02418
Date: 24 September 2018
DWP Response:
In response to tour final question of:-
How many of the complaint letters sent out by the DWP had placed the wrong
information which you had alluded to in your response in the Fol 0073 Date
02/03/2018 which you had said: Thank you for drawing our attention to the
letter dated March 2017; this letter should have stated the information ad
been found to be incorrect at February 2016. This letter is in the process of
being updated
How many of the updated letters have you sent out to the people who
received this incorrect information by the DWP.
The only way to obtain the number of complaint responses prior and following
the revision would be to investigate on a case by case basis.
However, we estimate that the cost of complying with your request would
exceed the appropriate limit for central Government, set by regulations at
£600.
This represents the estimated cost of one person spending 3½ working days
in determining whether the Department holds the information, and locating,
retrieving and extracting it.
Under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act the Department is not
therefore obliged to comply with your request and we will not be processing it
further.
Under section 16 of the Act we should help you narrow your request so that it
may fall beneath the cost limit.
Regrettably due to the specific nature of your request and the volume of
complaints received annually by the Department, even if we narrowed the
data set to one month, this would still exceed costs.
Unfortunately, due to these limitations I am unable to advise further.
As this question on its own has exceeded the costs limit for FOI Requests all
the response has therefore exceeded the cost limit.
If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the
reference number above.
Yours sincerely,
DWP Central FoI Team
FOI 0872
Thank you for your FOI request of 8 January 2018. You asked:
1. Please could you confirm that if
you complete the BR19 application form and put it in the post, you’ll get your statement within 10 working days, as mine took more
than 27
days to come. Is the 10 days from the date you post it or
10 days from the date that the
DWP receives the application? It does not advise you on the DWP website.
2. Can you tell me the date when people with a lower age than 60 years
old could request the Pension Statement? 3. Was this scheme only open to people over the age of 60? 4. How did the DWP inform people younger than 60 years
old could request a Pension Statement? 5. How did the DWP advertise to the general public
that you could complete a BR19 application for this request? 6. The DWP had said Since April 2000 DWP has issued more than 13 Million personalised State Pension statements to people who requested them. How o
ld did you
have to be to request a personalised State Pension statement Since April
2000? 7. How old did you have to be to request a personalised State Pension state
ment from 1995 up to April 2000?
8. What leaflets were created and how many were sent out or
indeed printed or requested?
FOI 2018/02442
Dear Langton
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 27 August. You
asked:
From the
PENSIONS ACT 2011 – IMPACTS - ANNEX A: STATE PENSION AGE
Title:
A sustainable State Pension: when the State Pension age will increase to 66
Lead department or agency: Department for Work and Pensions Impact
Assessment (IA) Date 21/11/2011 Final Stage
Primary legislation Implementation
Item 64 which had written the piece below:
As well as ensuring that information about the changes is available on its
website and in its leaflets and guides, the Government intends to
communicate these changes in State Pension age to individuals affected in a
timely way.
Between January and the end of March 2012, the Department will write to
around 800,000 individuals born between 6 April 1953 and 5 April 1955.
People born between these dates will either have a State Pension age
between birthdays, or would have been affected by the original equalisation
timetable.
From a Foi request DATE:16th August 2017 reference number Fol 3166 The
DWP had responded in this Foi 3166 with dates and how many letters were
sent to the same group of people and when:
The dates on which the women and men were notified, and the number of
women and men notified, are in the tables below. The Department wrote to all
those directly affected to inform them of the changes, using the address
recorded by HMRC at the time.
They were:
Between Birthdays 6th Apr 1953 to 5th Dec 1953 Letters sent Jan 2012
People qty 275,001 Between Birthdays 6 Dec 1953 to 5th Oct 1954 Letters
sent Feb 2012 People qty 646,001 Between Birthdays 6th Oct 1954 to 5Th
Apr 1955 Letters sent Feb 2012 People 375,001
My freedoms of Information request are:
Why is their discrepancy to what the Final Stage Impact Assessment had said
that the Department will write to around 800,000 individuals born between 6
April 1953 and 5 April 1955 ,against what the DWP had said in the reply to the
Fol 3166 on the same period between 6 April 1953 and 5 April 1955 the figure
total is 1296003 people who were sent a letter, this is a discrepancy of
496003 people.
Why is the date also incorrect when the letters were sent as the Fol 3166 has
the date Jan 2012 to Feb 2012 when the letters were sent when the Final
Stage Impact Assessment has said it would be between January and the end
of March 2012 one full month discrepancy.
Were the DWP aware of the true figure of people between the dates between
6 April 1953 and 5 April 1955.
Did the DWP receive the amount of people who were between the dates
between 6 April 1953 and 5 April 1955 from the HM Revenue & Customs.
Did the DWP receive the amount of people who were between the dates
between 6 April 1953 and 5 April 1955 from the HM Revenue & Customs and
this was forward to who produced the Final Stage Impact Assessment., or did
the information was not originated or supplied by the DWP?
My freedoms of Information request are:
Which is the true answers/reported figure to how many letters were sent to
this group of people born between 6 April 1953 and 5 April 1955 ,is it the
figures from the Impact Assessment which was sign off by the Minister Steven
Webb of the figures that of the Fol 3166?
This Impact Assessment had a:
Ministerial Sign-off For final proposal stage Impact Assessments:
I have read the Impact Assessment and I am satisfied that (a) it represents a
fair and reasonable view of the expected costs, benefits and impact of the
policy, and (b) the benefits justify the costs.
Signed by the responsible Minister: Steven Webb on the Date: 21/11/2011
It shows that a vast amount of people were missed from the Impact
Assessment against what the DWP had reported since it was signed by the
Minister: Steven Webb.
A discrepancy of 496003 people born between 6 April 1953 and 5 April 1955
were missed off the Final Impact Assessment which was For Primary
legislation I presume the correct total of people who fitted into this period
would have been provided by the HM Revenue & Customs, the DWP on
many occasions not just from other Foi but from complaint letters and on the
internet the DWP have said that the HMRC had supplied the address/name
updated at the time ! which the DWP had used to inform people by letter of
the pension changes.
This was signed off by the Minister, this is more than misleading not just for
the Minister but for the Government and this failure to give the correct amount
of people born between 6 April 1953 and 5 April 1955 requires investigation
My freedoms of Information request are:
What is the process will the DWP undertake to such a glaring discrepancy by
not having the correct figure of missing of the 496003 people from the Final
Impact Assessment?