§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the national guidelines are for the time a local authority should take to process a Housing Benefit application; and what is the average time it is taking in the Chelmsford local authority area. [126022]
§ Angela EagleUnder regulation 76 of the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987, where a local authority has received sufficient information to determine a claim, it must make the determination within 14 days of receipt of that information or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.
Under the Best Value regime introduced from April 2000, local authorities are required to submit data on the average length of time taken to determine claims. Previously, information was collected on the percentage of claims determined within 14 days. Between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 1999, the latest period for which data are available, Chelmsford Borough Council determined 48 per cent. of all Housing Benefit claims within 14 days.