29 June 2005 - Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) Inspection Report on Hart District Council
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, David Blunkett, has today published an inspection report by BFI on Hart District Council.
In 2003/04 Hart District Council administered some £7.8 million in housing benefits, about 34 per cent of its gross revenue expenditure. The BFI's follow-up inspection found that the council was not at Standard in any of the 7 functional areas of Performance Standards and was providing a poor level of service overall.
The council had failed to fully implement over 80 per cent of the recommendations made following the first inspection in 2000. This failure led to weak performance in key areas including Customer services and Overpayments in particular.
The Council's service to its customers was poor, due mainly to a limited telephone service, an out-of-date housing benefits claim form and confusing and inaccurate decision letters. While the Council was reporting that it was processing new claims for housing benefits in 23 days, against the Standard of 36, some claims were being decided with insufficient evidence.
A lack of management checks and insufficient overpayments training meant that the Council unnecessarily created overpayments. It also incorrectly claimed subsidy for overpayments caused by local authority error and only recovered 14 per cent of overpayments in 2003/04.
This inspection found a number of improvements in the council's counter-fraud work, including correctly applying sanctions in line with its policies.
BFI is an independent unit within the Department for Work and Pensions that reports directly to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the standard of benefit administration and counter-fraud activity.
James Plaskitt, anti-fraud Minister, announced the publication of the report in a written ministerial statement.
Notes to Editors
- Each BFI inspection report is considered by the Secretary of State who decides whether any further action is appropriate. The Secretary of State has powers to issue directions to a local authority to secure acceptable or minimum standards in performance.
- Media copies of the BFI inspection report can be obtained from the Department for Work and Pensions Press Office on 020 7238 0866.
- All BFI inspection reports can be found on the BFI website - www.bfi.gov.uk.
Department for Work and Pensions Press enquiries 020 7238
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