Foreword
This report follows the inspection of Hart District Council’s (Hart DC) benefits administration and counter fraud measures carried out during January 2000 as part of a programme of Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) inspections.
Hart DC is one of 11 LAs in Hampshire. It has a population of 81,000 and covers an area of around 84 square miles. The District has a large rural area with 2 main centres of population in Fleet and Yately.
In 1998/99 Hart DC paid around £5.9 million in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit to around 3,393 claimants.
A late decision not to go ahead with letting a contract for the outsourcing of the revenue services in July 1999 left Hart DC with a number of problems. Many of the key processes had been allowed to lapse and there had been a high turnover of staff, particularly in the fraud investigation team.
The BFI found several areas where Hart DC is failing to make sure benefit payments are free from fraud and error and where its service fails to comply with the law. Weaknesses exist across a number of key activities and its counter-fraud activity is ineffective.
Specifically Hart DC must:
- tighten verification procedures so, as a minimum, they match the standards outlined in the Verification Framework
- put in place post opening arrangements that fully meet the attributes detailed in the BFI Good Practice Guide
- make greater use of risk analysis and management information
- comply with legislation, particularly to ensure that all appropriate cases are referred to the Rent Officer, that notices of determination comply with the law and benefit periods are tailored to future changes in circumstance
- adopt a more thorough approach to the investigation of fraud. Investigations are currently superficial.
The interface with claimants is poor and the evidence produced in support of a claim is not always sufficiently substantiated. Poor policing of the gateway can allow invalid claims to enter the benefit system. Hart DC needs to greatly improve these aspects of its service if it is to ensure high standards of security to safeguard claims and payments from fraud and error – getting and keeping it right.
Improved investigative techniques will ensure that fraudsters are challenged and appropriate sanctions are taken against people who abuse the benefits system – putting it right.
Although there had been development of high-level counter fraud policies, these have not been underpinned with detailed operational measures, nor do they have the commitment of staff and management to implement them – making sure things work.
On behalf of my inspection team, I wish to thank the Chief Executive, managers and staff of Hart District Council for their support and co-operation during this inspection.
Susan Lingwood
Acting Inspector