Pilot local authorities
We have been working with a number of local authorities since 2003 to test
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) prior to introducing it nationally.
There are two sets of authorities.
- Read about the Pathfinder authorities
- Read about the Second Wave Group (2WG) authorities
- Read about the background to LHA
Pathfinder authorities
The first nine Pathfinder (pilot) authorities were subject to a comprehensive independent evaluation, which helped the DWP decide if the model being implemented was suitable for national rollout. These local authorities went live between November 2003 and February 2004.
- Details of the authorities can be found in Pathfinder Contacts.
Copies of the published reports can be found in Evaluation.
2WG authorities
The next nine local authorities went live between April 2005 and July 2005 and are referred to as the Second Wave Group (2WG). The 2WG were not subject to the same evaluation process as the pathfinders. The aim of the 2WG was to test out the operational readiness of LHA in advance of national rollout.
The 2WG authorities have:
- provided further information on the best way of implementing LHA more widely
- enabled us to make sure we take account of any issues arising
- helped us to further test out the practical and operational implications for local authorities.
This information has helped us to develop ‘best practice’ guidance for when we extend the scheme across the country.
The authorities were chosen to:
- best enable us to test out operational issues, including a good geographical spread
- involve one of the major software suppliers not previously involved in LHA
- include some smaller and more rural authorities who did not have large enough Housing Benefit private sector caseloads to be selected as a Pathfinder.
The rules and regulations for the 2WG authorities are exactly the same as for the nine Pathfinders.
- Details of the 2WG authorities can be found in 2WG contacts.