How are amounts for benefits calculated

Department for Work and Pensions did not have the information requested.

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

I would like to know exactly how the amounts for benefits are worked out, I ask because if this sentence; "This is what the LAW says what you need to live on"

1. The amounts for each benefit.
2. How the amounts are calculated.
3. How much it is that the amount actually is and why.
4. Who decides these amounts.
5. What the money is expected to be used for to justify "This is what the LAW says what you need to live on"

Yours faithfully,

P Maddison

DWP freedom-of-information-requests, Department for Work and Pensions

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DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

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If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team
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Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act

If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing [DWP request email] or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team, Caxton House, Tothill Street, SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF www.ico.gov.uk

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DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

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Please see the attached response to your Freedom of Information request.

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DWP Central FoI Team
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Dear DWP Strategy Freedom of Information,

I feel your answer does not clarify the answer, how can the amount be in line with the cost of living.
Rent/Mortgage
Gas
Electricity
Water
Insurance House/contents
Food
etc...

It just is not enough.

Yours sincerely,

P Maddison

DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Thank you for your Freedom of Information review request; please see the attached acknowledgement.
If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act

If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing [DWP request email] or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team, Caxton House, Tothill Street, SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF www.ico.gov.uk

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DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Please see the attached response to your Freedom of Information request.

Many thanks,

DWP Central FoI Team
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department for Work and Pensions's handling of my FOI request 'How are amounts for benefits calculated'.

I am asking that the DWP give information on how they calculate how much each benefit is, such as Income Support - What are they basing their calculations on. They must have an idea on what the money is going to be used for to be able to come up with an amount for the benefit.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h...

Yours faithfully,

P Maddison

DWP freedom-of-information-requests, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been accepted by the DWP FoI mailbox.
 
By the next working day your request will be forwarded to the relevant
information owner within the Department who will respond to you direct. 
 
If your email is a Freedom of Information request you can normally
expect a response within 20 working days.
 
Should you have any further queries in connection with this request do
please contact us.
 
For further information on the Freedom of Information Act within DWP
please click on the link below.
 
[1]http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...
 

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Thank you for your Freedom of Information review request; please see the attached acknowledgement.
If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act

If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing [DWP request email] or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team, Caxton House, Tothill Street, SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF www.ico.gov.uk

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Talbot Gina DWP FLDM MCT, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Please see the attached reply to your Freedom of Information request

Yours sincerely

DWP Strategy FoI team

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Ray Playforth left an annotation ()

How does this response square with Duncan Smith's assertion that the Department he is presiding over is administering a "blank cheque benefits" policy.

In a Press Release "National introduction of benefit cap begins" dated 15 July 2013 he asserted:

Returning fairness to the welfare state in this country is long overdue. We will always be there to support those who need help, but the days of blank cheque benefits are over and the benefit cap is a key part of this.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/natio...

Benefit cap applies to the combined income from Jobseekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit.

Anyone on these benefits been advantaged by the application of this "blank cheque" criteria? (Hypothetical question)!