Decision details

Seek approval to adopt risk based verification policy. 

 Matter for Decision: To seek approval for the adoption of the Risk Based Verification (RBV) Policy in determining evidence requirements for the assessment of new Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit claims.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor:

 

The Executive Councillor resolved to:

 

        i.            Approve the Risk Based Verification (RBV) Policy and agree that RBV be implemented for new claims by the Council following consultation with External Audit, (start date to be agreed pending full testing) and for changes in circumstances when approval for this is given by the Department for Works and Pensions.

      ii.            Bring a feedback report to the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee in July 2013.

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The committee received a report from the Benefits Manager.

 

In response to member’s questions the Benefits Manager confirmed the following:

 

        i.            As a result of the statistical data collected, certain claim types would be flagged up to the Claims Officers. Additional investigation, with the benefit of local knowledge, would then be undertaken.

      ii.            By reducing the verification burden it was hoped that more people would be encouraged to claim the benefits they were entitled too.

 

Councillor Boyce proposed the following additional recommendation:

 

-         That a feedback report be brought to the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee in July 2013.

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the amended recommendations by 4 votes to 0.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the amended recommendations.