The Automated Transfers to Local Authority Systems (ATLAS) Project

Updated 25 January 2012

The Housing Benefit Information Flows Programme (HBIFP) has increased the amount of information that can be sent automatically to LAs. ATLAS phase 1 currently transfers award data at the earliest opportunity for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Tax Credits. This is sent in a format that allows direct loading into local authority systems.

For HMRC customers receiving HB/CTB, ATLAS phase 1 provides information on

• new awards,
• change of awards (reprofiles), and
• terminations.

We successfully rolled out phase 1 to all authorities on 4 July 2011.

Phase 2 will extend ATLAS to deliver transactions for a range of DWP benefits, in addition to the HMRC notifications, and began for most authorities from 25 January 2012. Only LAs using the Northgate LA IT systems will have a deferred go-live date of 27 February 2012.

We will continue to consult with LAs on the project throughout its lifecycle and will keep you informed of developments via:

• HB Direct
• General Information Bulletin (GIB)
• the Practitioners’ Operational Group (POG)
• the Security Operational Group (SOG)
• the Local Authorities Association Steering Group (LAASG).

What’s new – updated 25 January 2012

ATLAS phase 2 early adopter period

The phase 2 national rollout awareness pack was issued on 16 December 2011.

              

Following the successful phase 2 early adopter period additional guidance has also been provided to all authorities on 17 January 2012. It provides some clarification to information provided in the awareness pack using feedback from the early adopter authorities. It also details the change requests/improvements being put in place by the project for future releases.

GSx/GCSx e-mail addresses

We send the majority of our correspondence to LA Benefit Managers and ATLAS points of contact using the GSx/GCSx e-mail addresses. Please ensure you check this e-mail address regularly.

If you do not have a secure email address, please ask about getting one so you do not miss out.

Please check this page regularly for further updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have produced a list of FAQs in respect of the ATLAS project.

• ATLAS FAQs (73KB) (updated 8 December 2011)
• ATLAS Phase 2 Key Facts (178KB)

Further information

• ATLAS Local Authority Benefits interest codes (82KB)
• HB/CTB General Information Bulletins
• HB Direct

• ATLAS Phase 2 DWP Change of Award Notifications (94KB)

Updates

We will update this page and the FAQs frequently so please visit the website regularly.

If you have any queries please contact us by secure email (GSx/GCSx) – QH.HBInfoFlowsProgramme@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK

ATLAS Project contacts