Guidance

S9/2021: Housing Benefit Award Accuracy Initiative funding for financial year ending March 2022 for local authorities participating from 5 July 2021

Updated 17 June 2022

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/housing-benefit-subsidy-circulars-2021/s92021-housing-benefit-award-accuracy-initiative-funding-for-financial-year-ending-march-2022-for-local-authorities-participating-from-5-july-2021

Who should read

All Housing Benefit staff.

Action

For information

Subject

Housing Benefit Award Accuracy Initiative funding for financial year ending March 2022 for local authorities participating from 5 July 2021.

Guidance Manual

The information in this circular does not affect the content of the HB Guidance Manual.

Queries

If you:

Introduction

1. This circular is to confirm the funding payments of approximately £500,000, allocated to local authorities (LAs) participating the Housing Benefit Award Accuracy (HBAA) Initiative from 5 July 2021. You should refer to circular HB S8/2021(Revised) for 6 April 2021 HBAA Initiative starters.

2. The funding is intended to support LAs undertaking activities to proactively identify unreported changes and make sure the right amount of HB is paid to the right person, at the right time.

3. LAs who have chosen to defer their start date to 4 October 2021 will receive details of their funding payments nearer the time.

Funding details

4. For LAs participating from 5 July 2021 and 4 October 2021, funding and volumes will be apportioned on a pro rata basis.

5. Circular HB A6/2021 provides details of the HBAA Initiative for financial year ending (FYE) March 2022.

6. This funding is for LAs to undertake:

  • HB Full Case Reviews (FCRs)
  • Housing Benefit Matching Service (HBMS) referrals, including
    • Self-Employed Case Reviews (SER)
  • the correct recording of case information on LA IT systems and clerical management information (MI) returns to DWP

7. Participating LAs are expected to review all HBMS cases they receive and their share of the 400,000 nationally identified FCRs. LAs are encouraged to contact our Performance Relationship Managers at lawelfare.pdt@dwp.gov.uk if they face any challenges.

8. If LAs have any queries regarding the HBAA Initiative they can contact us at lawelfare.frauderrordebt@dwp.gov.uk

Payment details

9. The funding payments for LAs are shown in Annex A. Payments will be made to those LAs participating from 5 July 2021 on or around 22 July 2021.

Annex A: HBAA Initiative funding payments for LAs participating from 5 July 2021

LA Funding payments
London Borough of Brent £126,847.16
Denbighshire County Council £12,592.39
East Hertfordshire District Council £12,667.57
Falkirk District Council £8,539.20
Hambleton District Council £4,573.24
Huntingdonshire District Council £14,168.33
Hyndburn Borough Council £9,079.12
Lichfield District Council £5,236.69
Malvern Hills District Council £5,575.29
Manchester City Council £116,859.49
North Norfolk District Council £13,215.58
Pembrokeshire County Council £10,778.81
Powys County Council £9,627.68
South Gloucestershire Council £21,956.95
South Ribble Borough Council £7,622.73
Southend-On-Sea Borough Council £27,796.11
Stevenage Borough Council £12,703.90
Stockton-On-Tees Borough Council £28,173.83
Tonbridge and Malling District Council £14,914.32
West Lancashire District Council £6,197.60
Worcester City Council £13,058.83
Wychavon District Council £10,594.95
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