Social Security Scotland - fruitless payments, overpayments and repayments: FOI release

Information requested

 

1) Number and value of fruitless benefit payments and overpayments made by Social Security Scotland in last 6 months

2) Longest single case unresolved, unpaid or unclosed from claim in past year

3) Details of highest number of repayment notices put to any claimant through Social Security Scotland

 

Response

 

(1) information on the number and value of fruitless benefit payments and overpayments made by Social Security Scotland to benefit claimants in the last six months.
Our systems and processes are designed to prevent and detect errors. As at 29 March 2019 we have detected fourteen instances of erroneous overpayments with a total value of £5,022. Our system does not differentiate between fruitless payments and overpayments therefore a further breakdown is not available.

You also requested, (2) full details of the longest single case remaining unresolved, unpaid or unclosed after an individual has made a benefit claim in the last year.
Social Security Scotland have 11 Best Start Grant applications outstanding which were all made on 14 December 2018. The reason these applications are still outstanding is that we have agreed to give these clients additional time to provide necessary evidence in support of their claim.

You also requested, (3) full details of the highest number of repayment notices put to any one person claiming benefits through Social Security Scotland.
As at 29 March 2019, Social Security Scotland had not issued any repayment notices.

 

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.