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<p>The Department does not take deductions from a claimant’s Universal Credit award
with the sole intent of contributing to the Department’s administrative costs.</p><p>
</p><p>For example, where payments of child maintenance are made via the Child Maintenance
Service, rather than directly between clients, a 20% collection fee is incurred by
the paying parent. This applies to deductions from benefit, including Universal Credit,
in the same way as any other collection method.</p><p> </p><p>Similarly, in cases
of benefit fraud an administrative penalty can be recovered as a deduction. These
penalties are offered as an alternative to prosecution, are not imposed by the Department
and can be declined by claimants.</p>
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