Decision details

Risk Based Verification in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To approve the withdrawl of Risk Based Verification processes in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support assessments

Decisions:

Having considered the confidential appendix, it was

 

RESOLVED:  That the removal of Risk Based Verification from the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support with effect from 1 April 2020 be agreed.

 

Reason for Decision:  To inform Cabinet of the reduction in the number of new claims for Housing Benefit as a result of the rollout of Universal Credit and the level of complexity of a high proportion of residual claims which, alongside the implementation of a revised Council Tax Support scheme that used Universal Credit notification as a claim for Council Tax Support for the working age had made  the Risk Based Verification process less effective in the administration of Housing Benefit. To request Cabinet’s approval to remove the use of RBV with effect from 1 April 2020 Furthermore, the implementation of a revised Council Tax Support scheme that uses the Universal Credit notification as a claim for Council Tax Support for the working age and allows validation of most working age claims from Universal Credit, also nullifies the need for using Risk Based Verification for Council Tax Support assessments

 

The Department of Work and Pensions required any changes to Risk Based Verification to be made at the start of the financial year. 

 

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the report.

 

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member/Dispensation Granted:  None.

Report author: Charlie Stewart

Publication date: 14/02/2020

Date of decision: 13/02/2020

Decided at meeting: 13/02/2020 - Cabinet

Effective from: 22/02/2020

Accompanying Documents: