Same clause used to deny public access to benefits data
Civil servants at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have again refused to release data - this time on those suffering because of reforms to disability benefits.
Last week the DWP was forced to reveal how many people had died shortly after being found fit to work by disability tests.
Despite concerted campaigning backed by a freedom of information (FoI) request, ministers relented only after a warning from England’s Information Commissioner.
Now the department is taking a similar tack after it refused to disclose how many Disability Living Allowance claimants had been made worse off after being moved onto the new Personal Independence Payment benefit.
DWP officials used the same section 22 of the Data Protection Act as it did to withhold the death statistics.
The request was made via the WhatDoTheyKnow website which encourages the public to hold public bodies to account.
Responding to the request, the DWP said: “I can confirm that the department holds the information you are seeking. However, Section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act exempts this information from disclosure. This is because the information is intended for publication at a future date.
Once again the DWP hide behind Section 22, but fail to indicate when these figures are to be produced - Jayne Linney
“This exemption requires the public interest for and against disclosure to be weighed in the balance. There is a public interest in information being released as soon as possible.
“However, I am satisfied that there is a strong public interest in permitting public authorities to publish information in a manner and form and at a time of their own choosing.”
Because of new ways benefits are being calculated, some claimants making the transition from the soon to be phased out Disability Living Allowance to new Personal Independence Payments lose out financially.
Popular blogger Jayne Linney, who is making the transition between the two benefits, wrote: “Once again the DWP hide behind Section 22, but fail to indicate when these figures are to be produced; could this be because the data, once revealed, will show another proven case of how the Welfare Reform Act is persistently failing disabled people?”
