Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) Inspection Report on London Borough of Ealing Council
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, John Hutton, has today published an inspection report by the BFI on London Borough of Ealing.
In 2005/06, London Borough of Ealing administered some £163.8 million in housing benefits, about 18.6% of its gross revenue expenditure. The inspection focused on the claims processing aspects of London Borough of Ealing's benefit delivery as it had reported deteriorating performance for processing changes of circumstances during 2005/06.
London Borough of Ealing changed its Benefits IT system in February 2005. This resulted in it being unable to process claims between December 2004 and February 2005. Clearance of the resultant backlog of work had a negative impact on performance.
In 2004/05 London Borough of Ealing reported that it decided new claims and changes of circumstances in an average 43.5 days and 26.1 days respectively. Reported performance deteriorated in 2005/06 to, on average, 48.5 days for new claims and 34.5 days for changes of circumstances.
The inspection found discrepancies that seriously undermined the accuracy of the performance data submitted to the Department for Work and Pensions in relation to speed of processing new claims and changes of circumstances. London Borough of Ealing used sampling to calculate performance in these 2 areas because it lacked confidence in the performance data produced by its Benefits IT system. However, inspectors found the most common reason for discrepancies in the performance data produced by the Benefits IT system was user input error.
The level of performance reported by London Borough of Ealing for 2005/06 was significantly better than that calculated by the Benefits IT system. For new claims the difference was 55.5 days and for changes of circumstances it was 14.5 days. This indicated that in 2005/06 new claims had been decided, on average, in 104 days and changes of circumstances in an average of 49 days.
Inspectors sampling of casework showed that new claims were being decided, on average, in 85 days in April and May 2006. For the same period, the Benefits IT system report showed an average of 79 days.
Although London Borough of Ealing failed to meet the Department for Work and Pensions minimum requirements for the average time taken to process new claims and changes of circumstances its performance was improving.
The standard of verification of claims was good.
BFI is an independent unit within the Department for Work and Pensions that reports directly to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the standard of benefit administration and counter-fraud activity.
James Plaskitt, Minister for Housing Benefit and Anti-Fraud, will announce the publication of the report in a written ministerial statement.
Notes to editors
1. Each BFI inspection report is considered by the Secretary of State who decides whether any further action is appropriate. The Secretary of State has powers to issue directions to a local authority to secure acceptable or minimum standards in performance.
2. Copies of the BFI inspection report can be obtained from:
DWP Information Centre
Room 114
The Adelphi
1 - 11 John Adam Street
London
WC2N 6HT
Tel: 020 7962 8176
Fax: 020 7962 8491
You can also e-mail requests to bfi-distribution@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
BFI reports are also available on the Internet at www.bfi.gov.uk
3. BFI was launched in November 1997 as part of the Government's initiatives to reduce the high levels of fraud in the social security system. BFI inspects the effectiveness and security of benefits administration within the Department for Work and Pensions and local authorities. It is part of the Department but operates independently of those responsible for administering benefits and reports directly to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. BFI's reports are published to promote good practice.
BFI press enquiries: 01423 83 2982
Public enquiries: 0207 712 2171
Website: www.bfi.gov.uk