293 Risk Based Verification Policy (RBV) PDF 317 KB
[Report of the Director for Customers, Transformation and Resources. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Civic Services]
To approve the RBV Policy as a means by which the Council will process claims for Housing benefit and Council Tax reduction.
Minutes:
The Cabinet Member for Corporate and Civic services introduced the report which set out the requirement for an annual review of the RBV policy. Given the impact of Covid-19, the Government had issued advice and a decision from Cabinet was being sought on whether or not to adopt that advice.
It was noted that the Risk Verification System used a software that determined the level of checks that needed to be carried out when a resident makes a claim for Council tax benefit reduction or housing benefit. It was noted that since November 2019, the use of the software had reduced the number of letters asking applicants for more information for claims .This had been the source of complaint for residents over the years as it caused delays and now having the software increased the speed of the process for considering benefit claims.
The Cabinet Member emphasised that the automated system did not have a role in deciding whether a claim was awarded or not and this decision was made by an officer. It was also noted that since the introduction of the system, no claimant had been asked for further information and many were being asked for less.
In light of the Covid 19, the DWP had suspended the need to review the policy by local authorities and the decision being considered was whether or not to adopt that advice.
Following questions from Cllr Mitchell, the following information was provided: