Agenda item

BENEFITS VERIFICATION POLICY

(A report by Sharron Hammond, Head of Revenue and Benefits)

 

Portfolio Holder: Councillor Jonathan Noble, Finance

Minutes:

 

DECISION

 

1.    That the Benefits Verification Policy for implementation with effect from 1 April 2022 be approved, replacing the current Risk Based Verification Policy.

 

2.    That subsequent reviews and revisions be delegated to the Section 151 Officer and Portfolio Holder for Finance.

 

Portfolio Holders and Officer

 

JN / SK

 

 

 

 

REASON FOR DECISION

 

Councillor Jonathan Noble, Portfolio Holder for Finance, introduced a report by the Assistant Director – Finance setting out proposals for the introduction of a Benefits Verification Policy from 1 April 2022, to replace the current Risk Based Verification Policy.

 

The report stated that since 2012 verification of evidence for new Housing Benefit claims and Council Tax Support applications made to Boston Borough Council had been administered under a Risk Based Verification Policy.

 

Risk Based Verification was extended to local authorities on a voluntary basis, with clear requirements and expectations set out by the Department for Works and Pensions for authorities that had chosen to adopt that approach.   The adoption of RBV allowed for resources to be targeted towards those cases with greater risk of fraud and error.

 

The review of the approach to the verification process was timely as:-

 

  • The changed profile of work type and claimant base, since the introduction of universal credit in 2018, had substantially reduced the earlier benefits of RBV.
  • There were now fewer new claims for Housing Benefit as claimants moved to Universal Credit.  The administration and governance required under a RBV policy was now disproportionate to the original benefits.
  • Should the risk based approach to verification be continued the policy would need to be overhauled to ensure it was fit for purpose for the current times, and to ensure appropriate operational and governance processes and procedures were in place as necessary to satisfy the Department for Work and Pensions expectations in relation to Housing Benefit, which would be tested through the subsidy audit process.
  • Currently, different standards of verification applied to new claims and changes in circumstances; new claims were subject to RBV but changes were not, which resulted in different evidence requirements. The review would simplify the requirements into a single policy and standardise the approach.
  • The South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (S&ELCP) provided the opportunity to align and standardise a single approach and policy for all three councils, delivered by the Public Sector Partnership Services Ltd (PSPS).  South Holland Dc and East Lindsey DC had replaced their risk-based approach to verification of HB claims and CTS applications in 2019.
  • In line with the digital and transformational aspirations of the Council and PSPS, it was anticipated electronic forms would be introduced in the future that enabled customers to carry out their business online.  A standard approach to evidence requirements would help simplify the administrative process for the customer experience.

 

The review had considered the type and nature of evidence that was acceptable and the verification that was required to ensure processes and controls remained robust to prevent fraud and error, but at the same time balanced the need for ease of access for the customer, and efficiency in the processing and decision making of claims.

 

For the reasons set out above, it was proposed that the current Risk Based Verification Policy should be replaced from 1 April 2022 with the Benefits Verification Policy attached at Appendix A of the report, which had been considered and endorsed by the Lincolnshire County Council Interim Principal Auditor.

 

An assurance was sought that claimants without access to technology would still have equal access to the benefit system and the opportunity to speak to Officers face to face. It was confirmed that claimants would not be required to use the electronic route and the system would not be live when the new policy was introduced from 1 April 2022.

 

Comments were also raised regarding the lack of implications identified in the report, which was becoming common place with reports to Cabinet and Committees. Whilst the implications may be set out in the body of the report it was important that they were also included in the implications section for the ease of the public who may read them.  The Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate Development agreed to take this away as an officer action.

 

 

 

OTHER OPTIONS OR ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

 

Retain a risk based approach to verification.

 

 

 

RECORD OF ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST

 

None.

 

 

RECORD OF ANY DISPENSATION GRANTED

 

None.

 

 

 

The Meeting ended at  7.20pm

 

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Signed by the Chief Executive

 

 

 

Friday, 25 FEBRUARY 2022

 

 

 

 

 

These decisions will come into force (and may then be implemented) on the expiry of five clear working days after the date of this notice UNLESS the decisions are subjected to the Call-In procedure or are starred minutes requiring Full Council approval.

 

 

 

Supporting documents: