Correcting errors

Where IPSA determines either to refuse a claim or to allow only part of the amount claimed, MPs may, within 14 days of IPSA issuing that notification, request IPSA to review its determination.

You can ask for a review of a refused or part-refused claim if you believe :

• the rules have been applied incorrectly

• an administrative error has been made by IPSA, and/or

• you have further evidence to support your claim

You have 14 days from being notified of the refusal to use IPSA Online to request such a review. [2.5]

For more information, visit Requesting a claim review and Request for repayment .

An inline error is flagged as soon as you click out of a mandatory field without filling it in correctly.

The relevant field is highlighted red with an exclamation mark next to the field as well as at the top and bottom of the screen.

After submitting a claim form, IPSA Online will run a number of automatic checks on the claim.

This could result in the form being sent back to you for clarification or amendment a few minutes after sending it.

A soft stop will be shown by a small numbered icon appearing on your task icon in the top right-hand corner.

After submitting a claim form, the system runs a number of automatic validation checks on the claim.

This could result in the form being sent back to you for amendment a few minutes after sending it if the claim breaks any of the rules set out in the Scheme.

Check your task list in IPSA Online three to six minutes after submitting. This will notify you of any errors.

The Direct Payment Correction Form allows you to raise any issues you have with any payments or claims you make to IPSA.

Changes cannot be made to claim dates.

When creating claims there are three levels of “errors” you may come across:

Inline errors

These happen when you forget to fill out a mandatory field (those with a red asterisk) and an error message will appear as soon as you click out of a field or when you attempt to submit the claim.

Soft stop errors

These errors happen after you have submitted a claim.

IPSA Online will check your form when it is submitted and will send an alert that something is not quite right (for example, you may have forgotten to add a receipt) – but you can still force through the claim (you may have already sent an invoice for the year).

Soft stops you may encounter include:

• "Selected budget exceeded"

• "Lease for a selected address has expired"

• "Hotel and subsistence limits exceeded"

• "No receipt attached"

• "Costs older than 90 days"

Hard stop errors

Like soft stops, these happen when you have submitted a claim.

These errors must be corrected before you can resubmit the claim (for example, travelling on the wrong journey type).

Hard stops you may encounter include:

• "Not valid – train fare limit exceeded" – this means you are trying to claim more than the anytime standard fare. You must reduce the amount claimed to the anytime standard fare to submit your claim.

• "Budget type – person-type correction" – this means you are attempting to claim from a budget you aren't allowed to claim from (for example, a staff member who is attempting to claim a cost allocated to the Accommodation budget). You must amend this to submit your claim.

• "Budget type – address-type correction" – this means you have added the wrong address associated with that budget (for example, choosing the office address for an Accommodation cost). This must be amended before submitting your claim.

• "Person – travel reason correction" – this means you have selected an incorrect journey type for your travel. You must amend this to submit your claim.