Department for Work and Pensions
- Date 19 April 2022
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 1: Upheld, FOI 10: Upheld, FOI 42: Not upheld
The complainant has requested legal advice obtained by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) regarding whether applying an increase to Universal Credit benefit payments but not other benefits was discriminatory. The Commissioner’s decision is that section 42(1) of the Act is engaged with respect to the information falling within the scope of the request and the public interest favours maintaining the exemption. The Commissioner does however find that DWP breached section 17(1) by providing its refusal notice outside of the statutory timeframe. The Commissioner does not require DWP to take any steps.