Updated 14 February 2013
The Automated Transfers to Local Authority Systems (ATLAS)
The ATLAS project has increased the amount of information that can be sent automatically to local authorities (LAs), in a format that allows direct loading into LA systems. ATLAS phase 1 was successfully rolled out to all authorities on 4 July 2011, providing Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Tax Credits award data.
Phase 2 extended ATLAS to additionally deliver notifications for a range of DWP benefits in January – February 2012.
The Local Authority Data Sharing (LADS) Programme are developing the ATLAS solution further. Please view the individual pages relating to those initiatives:
LAs are advised to refer to the revised ATLAS Awareness Pack(s) and other provided guidance/good practice, for more detail, including what notifications are delivered via ATLAS and the incident escalation route.
Batch Processing
We encourage all LAs to automate and batch process as many of the notifications received as possible. You should refer to your LA IT Supplier guidance to develop your LAs batch processing.
ATLAS documents
The project have compiled suggested good practice using information from a number of LAs and in conjunction with the Performance and Development Team (PDT) we have developed the ATLAS good practice document . This is being updated as ongoing business as usual. It was originally distributed to LAs via the LADS Delivery Team distribution list, on 15 June 2012. It is also available on the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Good Practice Guide pages.
ATLAS documents include
- Phase 2 Volumetrics, 8 December 2011
- Revised ATLAS Awareness pack, December 2012
- ATLAS Good Practice document
If you would like to receive ATLAS/LADS updates and you are not on the current distribution list please contact the LADS Delivery Team with your GSX/GCSX e-mail address.
If you need any copies of any documentation relating to ATLAS, please contact LAST.
Huddle
Huddle is a communication tool that will allow all the relevant documentation regarding LA Data Sharing to be available on –line in a single secure location, as well as providing the ability to start and join in discussions between LAs and DWP.
An invitation to join the LA Data Share (All LAs) Huddle Workspace has been issued to members of the LADS Delivery Team distribution list on7/8 Jan 2013. Due to housekeeping exercise, if you have not accepted this invitation you will need to request another. Please refer to HB Direct issue 134 for more information. You will additionally be sent an invitation to your LA IT supplier workspace as well. Please view the Huddle invitation update letter, issued 25 January 2013 for more detail.
You can provide either a secure (GSX/GCSX/GSE) e-mail address or your standard address when requesting Huddle access. Due to some LAs having restrictions on receiving the invitation from a non-secure e-mail (as per the Huddle invitation update letter) it is advised to request access via your standard e-mail address. You can change the e-mail address in Huddle after registering if desired.
If you wish to receive a Huddle invitation please provide an individual (i.e. not team) email to:
- SEF Users: LA-SST.HDD@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK
- Other, inc. ATLAS users: LADS.DELIVERYTEAM@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK
Frequently Asked Questions
We have produced a list of FAQs in respect of the ATLAS project.
- ATLAS FAQs (95KB) (updated 22 June 2012)
