1 September 2004 - Local Authorities support steps to improve Housing Benefit delivery
Local Authorities welcome steps taken by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to simplify Housing Benefit, according to the latest “Omnibus Survey of Housing Benefit Managers” published today.
Councils are signed up to Government initiatives to tackle fraud and error. The findings show that since April 2002, three out of four have worked with the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) and rated it useful and professional. Also over four out of five are on board with the Security Against Fraud and Error (SAFE) scheme, which provides funding for work to tackle fraud.
On efforts to raise standards across the board, over half of managers said they use the Quarterly Monitoring Reports to compare their performance in processing claims and reducing fraud and error against other Local Authorities (LAs). Many said the reports raise the profile of council benefit departments and encourage staff to meet and beat targets.
There was also a thumbs-up for changes introduced in 2003 that made DWP the sole source of funding for administration costs. Managers said the new subsidy system was easy to understand and more transparent.
Housing Benefit Minister Chris Pond said:
“A strong partnership between DWP and Local Authorities is key to delivering a better, quicker service based on simpler, clearer rules and making fraud more difficult to commit.
“The Omnibus survey shows local councils support our initiatives and there is a joint commitment to provide a more efficient service to the public.”
Notes for editors
- The Local Authority LA) Omnibus Survey: Wave Nine is a regular survey of local authority benefit managers, with a range of topics related to Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit covered in each Wave. Full results can be found at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/ih2003-2004/IH142.pdf
- All 408 LAs in England, Scotland and Wales were invited to take part and a total of 289 (71%) completed the questionnaire.
- The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI), launched in 1997, aims to strengthen benefits administration by inspection and reporting.
- The Security Against Fraud and Error (SAFE) scheme is a scheme that rewards LAs for identifying and acting on fraud and error in their HB caseload. This was introduced across Great Britain in April 2002 and further changes were introduced in April 2004. As a result of the review of the SAFE scheme, adjustments have been introduced in April 2004 so that authorities receive funding for all proactive work undertaken without the need to reach any threshold first.
- Quarterly Monitoring Reports have been produced since April 2002 and are sent to the Chief Executive of each local authority. The Report shows the performance of the LAs administration of HB/CTB in terms of six key indicators: 1) Average time taken processing new claims 2) Average time taken processing change of circumstances 3) Percentage of renewal claims processed on time 4) Percentage of cases calculated correctly 5) Percentage of new claims decided within 14 days of receipt of the LA receiving the necessary information 6) Percentage of new rent allowance claims paid where the first payment is made on time. The statistics are made available on the internet.
- In April 2003, as part of a wider review of housing benefit, changes were made to the subsidy system. The main changes mean that from 2003-2004 DWP will pay all Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit administration subsidy. Previously, DWP paid 50% and the other 50% was paid by the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister (in England), the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly.
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