Landlords to access tenants’ benefit data

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

Housing associations in Liverpool have launched a new IT system with the city council’s benefits service that will give them access to tenants’ benefit data.

The aim of the project is for the landlords to ensure tenants are accessing the right financial support and to prevent arrears building up.

The access is made possible through the Welfare Reform Act 2012 which enables councils to share data with social landlords so there is no breach of data protection legislation.

One of the landlords, Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH), has piloted the 'portal' and it is now being rolled out to all the social landlords represented on the Liverpool Housing Associations Welfare Reform Group.

The group includes: LMH, Liverpool Housing Trust, Cobalt Housing, South Liverpool Housing, Cosmopolitan Housing Association, Venture Housing Association, Eldonian Housing Association, Riverside, Regenda, Steve Biko Housing, Plus Dane Group, Your Housing Group, Pierhead Housing Association, North West Housing and RAISE (independent welfare rights organisation).

Through the portal, the landlords can access information about their tenants held by the city council’s benefits service.

Angela Forshaw, director of housing and customer services at LMH and chair of the welfare reform group said: “Having access to this data is going to allow us to communicate more effectively with tenants and help them far earlier and far more comprehensively, which is going to be vital when Welfare Reforms takes effect.

“All of the housing associations across Liverpool are working with the city council to address the impacts of the Welfare Reforms.

"The information that is supplied by the portal relates only to those tenants that have housing benefit paid directly to their registered provider. The data is the same as that currently available to landlords in receipt of direct payments by law.

“However, the portal provides direct access to this information instantaneously - avoiding delay whilst improving efficiency. This complements the data sharing exercise that is already on going in relation to the Department of Work and Pensions’ benefit cap and the application of the size criteria restriction.

“Housing benefit payments are currently suspended when people’s circumstances change and unless they follow the process they can be left short, causing financial pressure with debt building up.

“The portal will help prevent this by allowing us to identify them at the earliest possible stage."