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<p>We are unable to provide figures for court fine deductions over the last five years
as improvements to third party data reporting commenced in November 2018. Information
which is available can be found in the table below.</p><p> </p><p>The Department’s
deductions policy strikes a fair balance between a claimant’s need to meet their financial
obligations and their ability to ensure they can meet their day-to-day needs. It maintains
our policy to enforce social obligations such as the payment of court fines, ensure
Government debt is recovered and vitally to safeguard claimants from the potential
impacts of not repaying priority debts, such as homelessness or loss of utilities.
Since October 2019, Universal Credit deductions are a maximum of 30% of a claimant’s
standard allowance down from 40% previously. The Budget 2020 also set out that the
maximum level will be further reduced, so that standard deductions will not exceed
25% of a claimant’s Standard Allowance from October 2021.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Payment
Month</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of claimants with deduction for court
fines</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>% of claimants with deductions for court fines</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number
of claimants with the maximum deduction for court fines (£108.35)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Percentage
of those with deductions for court fines who have the maximum deduction (£108.35)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>November
2018</p></td><td><p>7,000</p></td><td><p>0.62%</p></td><td><p>Less than 500</p></td><td><p>6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>December
2018</p></td><td><p>7,000</p></td><td><p>0.59%</p></td><td><p>Less than 500</p></td><td><p>6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>January
2019</p></td><td><p>8,000</p></td><td><p>0.56%</p></td><td><p>Less than 500</p></td><td><p>5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>February
2019</p></td><td><p>8,000</p></td><td><p>0.56%</p></td><td><p>Less than 500</p></td><td><p>5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March
2019</p></td><td><p>13,000</p></td><td><p>0.84%</p></td><td><p>1,000</p></td><td><p>5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>April
2019</p></td><td><p>37,000</p></td><td><p>2.23%</p></td><td><p>2,000</p></td><td><p>7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May
2019</p></td><td><p>61,000</p></td><td><p>3.49%</p></td><td><p>4,000</p></td><td><p>7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>June
2019</p></td><td><p>83,000</p></td><td><p>4.51%</p></td><td><p>5,000</p></td><td><p>7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>July
2019</p></td><td><p>102,000</p></td><td><p>5.28%</p></td><td><p>7,000</p></td><td><p>7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>August
2019</p></td><td><p>112,000</p></td><td><p>5.57%</p></td><td><p>9,000</p></td><td><p>8%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>September
2019</p></td><td><p>117,000</p></td><td><p>5.59%</p></td><td><p>13,000</p></td><td><p>11%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>October
2019</p></td><td><p>114,000</p></td><td><p>5.22%</p></td><td><p>9,000</p></td><td><p>8%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>November
2019</p></td><td><p>109,000</p></td><td><p>4.82%</p></td><td><p>2,000</p></td><td><p>2%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p>1. Figures rounded to the nearest 1,000</p><p>2.
The increase in the proportion of claimants with deductions for fines is due to an
improved manual process phased in between February and the end of March for courts
to send through their court deductions.</p><p>3. Figures are subject to retrospective
change as later data becomes available</p><p>4. Claim numbers may not match official
statistics caseloads due to small methodological differences.</p><p>5. Court fines
are first taken at a 5% fixed rate, then again at the end of the priority order up
to the maximum deductions limit, up to a maximum deduction of £108.35. Figures show
the number of people having court fine deductions at £108.35 per month.</p><p>6. The
decrease in proportion of claimants with deductions for fines from October 2019 is
because the maximum deductions limit was reduced from 40% of the standard allowance
to 30% of the standard allowance.</p><p>7. The decrease in proportion of claimants
with the maximum deduction for fines from October 2019 is because the maximum deductions
limit was reduced from 40% of the standard allowance to 30% of the standard allowance</p>
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