Research and analysis

Fraud and Error Reduction Incentive Scheme: first phase (FERIS1)

This report examines local authority experiences of the first phase of a scheme to reduce fraud and error in Housing Benefit claims.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Published: 21 September 2017

Documents

Research into the first phase of the Fraud and Error Reduction Incentive Scheme (FERIS1)

Ref: ISBN: 978 1 911003 81 6, RR947

PDF, 2.82 MB, 106 pages

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Summary: Research into the first phase of the Fraud and Error Reduction Incentive Scheme (FERIS1)

PDF, 302 KB, 4 pages

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Details

The Fraud and Error Reduction Incentive Scheme (FERIS) was designed to encourage local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales to identify and reduce fraud and error in Housing Benefit claims in their area. The first phase of the scheme, FERIS1, ran from December 2014 to March 2016.

The scheme consisted of 2 main elements:

• a Performance Improvement Fund, which issued grants to local authorities to help them reduce fraud and error
• FERIS incentive payments, based on the extent to which local authorities had reached or exceeded a minimum fraud and error performance threshold

This research was commissioned to explore and understand:

• local authority experiences of applying to and implementing FERIS1
• the types of activities FERIS1 supported
• the perceived impacts of FERIS1 on levels of fraud and error in Housing Benefit

The research also looked to capture local learning on fraud and error initiatives supported by FERIS1, and to share this learning more widely.

The findings have been used to inform the development and delivery of the second phase of the scheme (FERIS2) and its successor, the Right Benefit Initiative, which was launched on 1 April 2017.

Authors: Lorna Adams, Matt Barnes, Peter Hall, Sam Morris and Jeffy Henderson (IFF Research).

Published 21 September 2017