Housing associations talking to DWP over 'benefit verifier' role

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Legal, Local Government

Places for People and several other large housing associations have been in talks with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about joint-working initiatives to smooth the roll-out of Universal Credit next year - including plans for landlords to act as "benefit verifiers", which would aim to reduce the workload for the department and speed up the processing of new claims.

In its written evidence submitted to the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee - which is examining the progress being made towards the implementation of the Universal Credit - 62,000-home Places for People has put forward a number of recommendations for joint-working with the DWP to ensure a smoother transition for claimants on to Universal Credit.

Universal Credit will replace six income-related benefits, including housing benefit, from October 2013 and will see claimants receive a single monthly payment directly. The DWP also expects 80% of claimants to apply online by 2017 – effectively severing the role of local authorities in the process.

Although welcoming the positive implications of Universal Credit for registered providers, Places warns there are risks which it’s currently working to mitigate.

In evidence submitted to the inquiry last month, it warned: "Currently many registered providers work closely with local authorities to help and support benefit claimants, both through the initial claim process and when their circumstances change. The change in service provision from local authority to DWP and disruption to channels of communication risks cutting the landlord out of the loop and restricting their ability to assist vulnerable tenants. The inability of landlords to assist with the verification process and high level of cases requiring support and assistance could also increase administrative burdens and delays within DWP."

It also warns evictions are more likely as arrears could potentially build up before housing benefit is switched back to the landlord and is concerned by the ‘digital by default’ aspiration, as only around 50% of its residents have internet access.

The landlord said it, with several other large registered providers, is in talks with the DWP to agree a feasibility study looking at proposed joint working arrangements - which could see landlords act as “benefit verifiers”, thus reducing DWP workload and speeding up the processing of new claims.

Other joint-working initiatives being explored include the provision by the DWP of prompt and timely information about Universal Credit claims to landlords and prior notification by landlords to DWP of any changes in property charges, to ensure Universal Credit claims can be processed efficiently.

The Government has launched specific local authority pilots looking into the support claimants will need under the new system. It's also part-way through 12-month housing benefit demonstration projects which sees only the housing benefit paid directly to samples of tenants to identify the support mechanisms they need.

In July, 24dash reported how a housing association in the Midlands was part-funding a member of the housing benefit team in Birmingham City Council in a bid to support its residents and ensure their claims are handled as efficiently as possible.

Trident Group - which manages 3,000 homes and works across nine local authorities - says it is part-funding the role of a dedicated officer to help the flow of information between it and the council.