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
| 18 – 64 | 65+ | |
| 2019/20 | 1,421 | 1,609 |
| 2020/21 | 1,492 | 1,712 |
| 2021/22 | 1,529 | 1,801 |
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
Devon County Council believes compliance with this request would exceed the appropriate costs limit under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which is £450 or 18 hours of officer time.
This is because DCC does not keep a central count or record of this information, and so in order to retrieve this information we would have to look at every file to see which ones had led to legal actions. As there are thousands of files, and to examine each one would take approximately 5 minutes, this would be well in excess of the 18 hours.
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.
Devon County Council believes compliance with this request would exceed the appropriate costs limit under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which is £450 or 18 hours of officer time.
This is because DCC does not keep a central count or record of this information, and so in order to retrieve this information we would have to look at every file to see which ones had led to legal actions. As there are thousands of files, and to examine each one would take approximately 5 minutes, this would be well in excess of the 18 hours.
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
Devon County Council believes compliance with this request would exceed the appropriate costs limit under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which is £450 or 18 hours of officer time.
This is because DCC does not keep a central count or record of this information, and so in order to retrieve this information we would have to look at every file to see which ones had led to legal actions. As there are thousands of files, and to examine each one would take approximately 5 minutes, this would be well in excess of the 18 hours.
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
Devon County Council believes compliance with this request would exceed the appropriate costs limit under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which is £450 or 18 hours of officer time.
This is because DCC does not keep a central count or record of this information, and so in order to retrieve this information we would have to look at every file to see which ones had led to legal actions. As there are thousands of files, and to examine each one would take approximately 5 minutes, this would be well in excess of the 18 hours.
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.
The debt recovery process is managed internally.
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?
Not applicable.
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
Devon County Council believes compliance with this request would exceed the appropriate costs limit under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which is £450 or 18 hours of officer time.
This is because DCC does not keep a central count or record of this information, and so in order to retrieve this information we would have to look at every file to see which ones had led to legal actions. As there are thousands of files, and to examine each one would take approximately 5 minutes, this would be well in excess of the 18 hours.