REVIEW OF BENEFITS RISK BASED VERIFICATION POLICY
To consider a report regarding revisions to the Risk Based Verification Policy.
Contact: A Burns 388122 B Huggins 388479
Additional documents:
Decision:
Approves the revised Risk Based Verification Policy.
Minutes:
Having received a recommendation from the Corporate Governance Committee at their meeting on 20 July 2016, the Cabinet considered a confidential report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding the revised Risk Based Verification (RBV) Policy.
The RBV was a method of risk scoring claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support so that additional checks and resources were targeted at cases most likely to contain fraud and/or error prior to putting the claim into payment.
The RBV was introduced for new benefit claims in March 2013 and was reviewed in July 2015 to allow the RBV to be applied to changes of circumstance in addition to new claims. A further review of the Policy had been conducted to implement a different type of check, which would enhance and streamline the existing process to ensure the gateway to the benefit system remained secure.
Guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) required that where a local authority implemented RBV, a Policy must be produced, receive Member approval and be reviewed annually.
Having noted the comments of the Corporate Governance Committee, circulated to the Cabinet prior to the meeting, the Cabinet
RESOLVED
to approve the revised Risk Based Verification Policy.
REVIEW OF BENEFITS RISK BASED VERIFICATION POLICY
To consider a report regarding revisions to the Risk Based Verification Policy.
Contact: A Burns 388122 B Huggins 388479
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Committee gave consideration to a confidential report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding the revised Risk Based Verification (RBV) Policy.
The RBV was a method of risk scoring claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support so that additional checks and resources were targeted at cases most likely to contain fraud and/or error prior to putting the claim into payment.
The RBV was introduced for new benefit claims in March 2013 and was reviewed in July 2015 to allow the RBV to be applied to changes of circumstance in addition to new claims. A further review of the Policy had been conducted to implement a different type of check, which would enhance and streamline the existing process to ensure the gateway to the benefit system remained secure.
Guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) required that where a local authority implemented RBV, a Policy must be produced, receive Member approval and be reviewed annually.
At 7.07pm, Cllr Gray, Executive Councillor for Strategic Resources entered the meeting.
In response to a question it was explained that the software costs for the credit reference module would be covered by the new burdens funding from the DWP and that the revision to the current process would generate a significant financial saving for the Council.
It was suggested by the Committee that the additional check should be applied to all applications. Regarding measures to test the effectiveness of the system it was explained that External Audit audited claims to confirm validity and accuracy.
The Committee was pleased to note that the fraud and error detected by the Council exceeded the baseline figure for blind sampling and having received an explanation as to the method for blind sampling the Committee,
RECOMMENDED
that the Cabinet approve the revised Risk Based Verification Policy.