Security
This section contains information about Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Benefit (CTB) security and tackling fraud and error.
- Fraud and error action plan
- Right benefit performance indicator
- Welfare Reform Act 2008
- Social Security Fraud Act (SSFA) 2001 Authorised Officers
- Disclosure of personal information – witnesses
Fraud and error action plan
The DWP is actively seeking to reduce losses in the benefit system. We published an action plan for tackling fraud and error in HB and CTB in February 2007 that focuses on:
- making best use of the information and data available within the DWP
- influencing customer behaviour
- improving IT and other processes
- empowering local authorities (LAs) and partner organisations
Action
plan for tackling fraud and error in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (43KB) 
The Plan encompasses more than 20 projects based around the themes listed above - some of which are:
- Data matching HB/CTB records with Credit Reference Agency data
- Voice Risk Analysis (VRA)
- Error awareness
- Right Benefit Toolkit
Right benefit performance indicator
The ‘right benefit’ performance indicator was introduced from April 2008 and measures the annual number of increases and decreases in HB/CTB entitlement.
Further information is available in Part Two of the HB/CTB Good Practice Guide.
Welfare Reform Act 2007 (WRA)
From 7 April 2008 regulations introduced within the WRA, gave LAs clear powers to investigate and prosecute offences against certain national social security benefits alongside local ones.
Section 46 of the WRA and the Regulations allow LAs to investigate both HB/CTB and certain national benefit offences.
Section 47 of the WRA and the Regulations allow LAs to prosecute both HB/CTB and certain national benefits. This section does not apply in Scotland where the Procurator Fiscal is responsible for bringing charges in relation to all criminal offences.
Section 48 of the WRA gives LAs access to such information as is necessary to carry out these activities.
Social Security Fraud Act (SSFA) 2001 Authorised Officers
The database of all SSFA Authorised Officers - held by FIS Operational Intelligence Unit (OIU) - was revised following concerns that the information held may not be up-to-date. The database, and the secure website hosting it, is the means by which private sector businesses can confirm that the requests they receive for information are genuine.
A number of LAs asked for further clarification following publication of the guidance in the HB/CTB Bulletin G3/2008. As a result, DWP has discussed these matters further with the LA representatives on the Security Operational Group (SOG).
Further information and guidance can be found in HB/CTB Bulletin G3/2008 and HB/CTB Bulletin G5/2008.
Disclosure of personal information – witnesses
A number of LA investigation staff recently questioned the reasons behind DWP Prosecution Division’s (PD) request for details of a LAs investigator’s disciplinary records and previous convictions, when they have signed witness statements.
The DWP’s Housing Benefit Strategy Division consulted with colleagues within PD to clarify the situation and the legal position.
Further information and guidance can be found in the HB/CTB Bulletin G5/2008.
