Thank you for your request for information about the following:

Please can you provide a copy of the manual used by assessors when assessing HC1 applications. I have asked for, and received, this in the past (FOI 18104), but have lost the document which was provided. I would like the most up-to-date version available. Thank you.

Your request was received on 17th January 2024 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Response

A copy of the information is attached.

Withheld Information

Some of the information you requested is being withheld as it falls under the exemption in section 31(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act. In applying this exemption we have balanced the public interest in withholding the information against the public interest in disclosing the information. The below sets out the factors considered when deciding that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Factors for disclosure

• Public transparency of benefit assessment
• Provide the public with an opportunity to challenge the basis of the NHS Low Income Scheme assessment

Factors for withholding

• Disclosure would allow claimants to fraudulently increase value of benefit received.
• Disclosure would allow fraudulent claimants for benefit
• Increased cost to the tax payer of paying for any increase in fraudulent claims

Reasons why public interest favours withholding information

I consider that the public transparency in releasing this information is outweighed by the potential detrimental effect on the prevention or detection of crime and the increased cost to the tax payer of fraudulent benefit claims that this would represent.

Please click the below web link to see the exemption in full

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/31

Data Queries

If you have any queries regarding the data provided, or if you plan on publishing the data please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data, please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2024” This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.