Foreword
This report follows the inspection of Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council’s (Berwick BC's) benefit administration and counter fraud work carried out as part of a programme of Benefit Fraud Inspectorate inspections during November and December 1999.Our findings clearly reveal an urgent need for Berwick BC management to address serious deficiencies in the resourcing of benefits administration and counter fraud work. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit claims are not managed or controlled effectively and the verification of claims is weak. Although the new claim clearance target is good and benefit work is up to date, this has been achieved at the expense of properly checking claim information and ensuring that the accuracy of payments is maintained.
There are serious weaknesses in Berwick BC’s commitment to stopping benefit fraud and implementing good practices. Berwick BC has no effective strategy for addressing benefit fraud and its counter fraud work is not properly directed or controlled. These fundamental failings and lack of counter fraud measures must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
The recommendations in this report will significantly improve benefit administration and counter fraud efforts.
On behalf of my inspection manager and his team, I thank the staff of Berwick BC for their support and co-operation during this inspection.
Stuart Smith
Inspector
Benefit Fraud Inspectorate