15 July 2004 - East Lothian people get quicker and better benefit service
People in East Lothian are receiving Housing and Council Tax Benefits more quickly after the Council exceeded targets set by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and local staff from East Lothian Council took action after the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) found the Council was failing to achieve acceptable performance standards for processing Housing Benefits.
The Council was told to cut the average processing time for new claims to 40 days. It was also required to significantly improve its performance in making decisions on renewal claims before the original claims ended.
Thanks to the efforts of the Council and their close working relationship with DWP this target was not only met but surpassed. New claims, for example, are now processed in an average of 30 days.
Work and Pensions Minister Chris Pond said:
"I want to congratulate the Council and staff of East Lothian Council for their work in transforming the Benefits service they provide to local people. It is of course vital that the Council continues to improve and I am pleased to see that they intend to build on their success.
"The Government is determined to work with councils throughout the country to help them raise their game and achieve our common aim of ensuring people get the help they need, quickly and accurately.
"The turnaround seen in East Lothian is an excellent example of how this can be done."
Notes for editors
- East Lothian Council was subject to two BFI inspections (1999 and 2001) which were critical of delays in processing new and renewal claims. This finding was backed up by the Accounts Commission Best Value data for 2000/01 which showed East Lothian Council took an average of 95 days to process new claims.
- The Government sets Performance Standards for Housing Benefit Administration. A copy of the HB Performance Standards can be obtained from the BFI press office on 01423 832 938.
- DWP Ministers issued statutory Directions requiring East Lothian to improve processing times for claims for Housing and Council Tax Benefit for the period June 2002 to May 2004. In addition to the processing of new claims the Council was required to decide 75% of renewal claims for benefit before the previous claim ceased. Before renewal claims were abolished on 6 April 2004, East Lothian were processing 83% before claims ceased.
For more information contact BFI Press Office on 01423 832 938
Press office: 020 7238 0866
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk