FOI Request - Automation in Welfare Decisions

Request 101002620512

1. Does any stage of decision making across benefits and welfare (defined as including but not limited to allocation of social housing, personal social care budgets, council tax support and the assessment of fraud within) presently involve automation, AI or algorithms at your council?
a. For clarity, automation may include (non-exhaustively), predictive analytics (ie to assess rent arrears or child welfare risks), risk assessment of claims (commonly known as risk based verification), the use of computer programs or algorithms to guide resource allocation, the use of datasets to guide how benefits are processed and disbursed.
2. If Yes, please provide details:
a. Of the algorithms or automated decision-making programs you use;
b. If you use a commercial product or whether you have developed your own system;
c. Of the purpose for which the algorithm or automated decision-making system operates;
d. Of the decisions the algorithm or automated decision-making system is asked to make;
e. Of the type, classification and amount of data that the algorithm or automated decision-making system uses to make its decision;
f. If a commercial product, how much has it cost the council over the past three years.

3. If no, has your council stopped using this kind of automation in the last three years and what automation/algorithms were previously used?

4. Does your council use Amazon Rekognition software, and if yes, what for?

Response 19.11.20

1.            Does any stage of decision making across benefits and welfare (defined as including but not limited to allocation of social housing, personal social care budgets, council tax support and the assessment of fraud within) presently involve automation, AI or algorithms at your council? No
a.            For clarity, automation may include (non-exhaustively), predictive analytics (ie to assess rent arrears or child welfare risks), risk assessment of claims (commonly known as risk based verification), the use of computer programs or algorithms to guide resource allocation, the use of datasets to guide how benefits are processed and disbursed. No
2.            If Yes, please provide details:
a.            Of the algorithms or automated decision-making programs you use;
b.            If you use a commercial product or whether you have developed your own system;
c.             Of the purpose for which the algorithm or automated decision-making system operates;
d.            Of the decisions the algorithm or automated decision-making system is asked to make;
e.            Of the type, classification and amount of data that the algorithm or automated decision-making system uses to make its decision;
f.             If a commercial product, how much has it cost the council over the past three years.

3. If no, has your council stopped using this kind of automation in the last three years and what automation/algorithms were previously used? No

4. Does your council use Amazon Rekognition software, and if yes, what for? No