Housing Benefit (Hansard, 20 May 1996)

§ Mr. Barry Field
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what performance indicators apply to the payment of housing benefit; and if these apply equally to the new unitary authorities. [28982]

§ Mr. Roger Evans
The Department of Social Security does not set performance indicators for the payment of housing benefit but information from departmental statistical returns is used by local authorities to provide the base data for housing benefit performance measures compiled for and published under the citizens charter initiative by the Audit Commission. The most recent publication was for 1994–95.
The Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 provide that every authority shall make the first payment of any housing benefit awarded by it within 14 days of the receipt of a properly completed claim and all claims should be determined within 14 days of receipt of all the relevant information. Where this is impracticable, payments on account must be made. The regulations apply to all local authorities administering housing benefit.

§ Mr. Field
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what powers he has to intervene where a local authority is failing to pay housing benefit on time; and what procedures exit for a special audit of those local authorities who have a backlog in the payment of housing benefit. [28981]

§ Mr. Evans
The day-to-day administration of housing benefit is the statutory responsibility of local authorities and the quality of service is largely a local matter. The Department monitors administrative performance through the examination of statistical returns and other information backed by a programme of visits to a range of local authorities. Where a local authority appears to have serious administrative problems, departmental officials will consider making a special visit to discuss them at a senior level. In addition, a local authority housing benefit subsidy returns are subject to annual audit by an auditor approved by the Audit Commission which many, as part of this process, draw the Department's attention to authority failings.