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.
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Portfolio Holders and Officer
JN / SK
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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 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.
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OTHER OPTIONS OR ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
Retain a risk based approach to verification.
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RECORD OF ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None. |
RECORD OF ANY DISPENSATION GRANTED
None. |
The Meeting ended at 7.20pm
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:
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Benefits Verification Report - Cabinet 23 February, item 51.
PDF 245 KB
- Restricted enclosure View the reasons why document 51./2 is restricted