answer text |
<p>The table below details the total number of Civil Penalties which have been passed
to Debt Collection Agencies in each of the last 12 months*.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Month</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Civil
Penalties</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jun-18</strong></p></td><td><p>700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jul-18</strong></p></td><td><p>900</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Aug-18</strong></p></td><td><p>800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Sep-18</strong></p></td><td><p>600</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Oct-18</strong></p></td><td><p>600</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Nov-18</strong></p></td><td><p>800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Dec-18</strong></p></td><td><p>500</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jan-19</strong></p></td><td><p>900</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Feb-19</strong></p></td><td><p>600</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Mar-19</strong></p></td><td><p>600</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Apr-19</strong></p></td><td><p>700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>May-19</strong></p></td><td><p>700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Grand
Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>8400</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p> </p><p>A £50 Civil Penalty may be imposed by both Department for Work and
Pensions (DWP) and Local Authorities where an individual incurs a recoverable overpayment
as a result of failing to provide accurate information as part of their benefit claim
or in connection with an award of benefit, and has not taken reasonable steps to correct
the error.</p><p> </p><p>When recovering overpayments, DWP ensures that appropriate
safeguards are in place to protect claimants from any undue financial hardship. Like
the Department, private collection agencies will look to establish sustainable repayment
arrangements.</p><p> </p><p><em>*The data provided in this response has been sourced
from internal management information and was not intended for public release. It should
therefore not be compared to any other, similar data subsequently released by the
Department. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. </em></p><p> </p>
|
|