FOI Request - Social Care Charges Debt Recovery
Request 101003087691
1. How many adults – excluding those living in a care home - were billed* for s.14 social care charges for long-term care and support in the following financial years? Please break down the figures into those aged 18-64 and those aged 65+ for each.
i) 2019/20
ii) 2020/21
iii) 2021/22
* Please include those who were billed but have not yet paid
2. How many adults – excluding those living in a care home - had debt management procedures commenced against them for the non-payment of s14 social care charges for long-term care and support in the following financial years? This includes individuals contacted at any stage of the debt recovery process. Please break down the figures into those aged 18-64 and those aged 65+ for each. This may include individuals who are now deceased.
i) 2019/20
ii) 2020/21
iii) 2021/22
3. As of 1 April 2022 (or at the time of responding to this FOI, if data for 1 April 2022 is not available), how many adults – excluding those living in a care home - were involved in a debt recovery process for the non-payment of s14 social care charges for long-term care and support? This includes individuals at any stage of the debt recovery process. Please break down the figures into those aged 18-64 and those aged 65+, and how much was owed in total by these individuals to the local authority. This may include individuals who are now deceased.
4. In the following financial years, how many adults have had legal action brought against them for the non-payment of s14 social care charges for long-term care and support? Please break down the figures into those aged 18-64 and those aged 65+ for each. This may include individuals who are now deceased.
i) 2019/20
ii) 2020/21
iii) 2021/22
5. In how many of those cases in answers 4i, 4ii and 4iii has this resulted in criminal action being taken? Please break down the figures by the following financial years, and into those aged 18-64 and those aged 65+ for each:
i) 2019/20
ii) 2020/21
iii) 2021/22
6. Is your debt recovery process, with regard to s14 social care charges, currently managed internally (ie within the local authority) or externally (ie by a private company instructed by the local authority)? Please explain.
6b. If the debt recovery process is currently managed externally, what is the name of the private company or companies currently being instructed by the council?
7. In how many cases, where an adult – excluding those living in a care home - has had debt management procedures against them for the non-payment of s14 social care charges for long-term care and support, has the local authority waived those debts in the following financial years? Please break down the figures into those aged 18-64 and those aged 65+ for each. This may include individuals who are now deceased.
i) 2019/20
ii) 2020/21
iii) 2021/22
Clarification received from requester 08-06-2022:
Could the request below please supersede the one I originally sent?
1. How many adults – excluding those living in a care home - were billed* for social care charges for long-term care and support in the following financial years? Please break down the figures into those aged 18-64 and those aged 65+ for each.
i) 2019/20
ii) 2020/21
iii) 2021/22
* Please include those who were billed but have not yet paid
2. How many adults – excluding those living in a care home - had debt management procedures commenced against them for the non-payment of social care charges for long-term care and support in the following financial years? This includes individuals contacted at any stage of the debt recovery process. Please break down the figures into those aged 18-64 and those aged 65+ for each. This may include individuals who are now deceased.
i) 2019/20
ii) 2020/21
iii) 2021/22
3. As of 1 April 2022 (or at the time of responding to this FOI, if data for 1 April 2022 is not available), how many adults – excluding those living in a care home - were involved in a debt recovery process for the non-payment of social care charges for long-term care and support? This includes individuals at any stage of the debt recovery process. Please break down the figures into those aged 18-64 and those aged 65+, and how much was owed in total by these individuals to the local authority. This may include individuals who are now deceased.
4. In the following financial years, how many adults have had legal action brought against them for the non-payment of social care charges for long-term care and support? Please break down the figures into those aged 18-64 and those aged 65+ for each. This may include individuals who are now deceased.
i) 2019/20
ii) 2020/21
iii) 2021/22
5. In how many of those cases in answers 4i, 4ii and 4iii has this resulted in criminal action being taken? Please break down the figures by the following financial years, and into those aged 18-64 and those aged 65+ for each:
i) 2019/20
ii) 2020/21
iii) 2021/22
6. Is your debt recovery process, with regard to social care charges, currently managed internally (ie within the local authority) or externally (ie by a private company instructed by the local authority)? Please explain.
6b. If the debt recovery process is currently managed externally, what is the name of the private company or companies currently being instructed by the council?
7. In how many cases, where an adult – excluding those living in a care home - has had debt management procedures against them for the non-payment of social care charges for long-term care and support, has the local authority waived those debts in the following financial years? Please break down the figures into those aged 18-64 and those aged 65+ for each. This may include individuals who are now deceased.
i) 2019/20
ii) 2020/21
iii) 2021/22
Response 30-06-2022
1.-3. We confirm that the information is held by the council, but it would not be split by age group. Given the time it would take to do this work manually this would cost the Council in excess of £600. In accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, excessive cost, we are therefore unable to comply with your request.
4. & 5. No held. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.
6. Both. There is a Sundry Debt Management Policy in place with escalation to external debt collection company should non-payment continue.
b) Scott & Co
7. We confirm that the information is held by the council, but it would not be split by age group. Given the time it would take to do this work manually this would cost the Council in excess of £600. In accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, excessive cost, we are therefore unable to comply with your request.