§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if a claimant's absence when visited by a housing benefit verification officer is considered a negative identification check if the visit is unannounced; and if he will make a statement. [130066]
§ Angela EagleNo, if the claimant is not available when visited unannounced, the local authority would either make a further visit or collect the information in another way. A visit is not required to establish the claimant's identity.
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§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons it is necessary for pensioners to comply with the requirements of the housing benefit verification framework. [130067]
§ Angela EagleThe Verification Framework guidance is aimed at ensuring proper standards in the administration of Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit by local authorities. This ensures that the right amount of benefit is paid to any claimant who is properly entitled to it. The checks local authorities are required to make under the Framework apply to all claimants, no matter what their age or status.
That said, as we announced in the Housing Green Paper, we are moving towards organisational changes, which will see services to pensioners being better tailored to their needs. This includes looking at whether there is a need to require pensioners to make claims as often as they have to at the moment. However, any change is still likely to need rigorous checking at the outset to ensure that the full and correct amount of benefit is put in payment.
Anecdotal evidence from local authorities indicates that in some areas the introduction of the Verification Framework has highlighted a significant number of incorrect payments to pensioners. Although in many cases overpayments have been identified, there are also a substantial number of cases where underpayments have been established and rectified as a result of verification.