Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
To approve the withdrawl of Risk Based Verification processes in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support assessments
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: