Department for Work and Pensions

The complainant has requested information about state pensions. The Department for Work and Pensions (‘the DWP’) refused to disclose the information, citing section 12 of the FOIA (cost exceeds appropriate limit) and section 40 (personal data) as its basis for doing so. The Commissioner’s decision is that the DWP has correctly applied section 12 and section 40 to the request but breached section 16 (advice and assistance). He does not require the DWP to take any further action.