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Dept of Social Security

Answer

Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security he will make a statement on his policy for the detection of Housing Benefit fraud. [141828] Angela Eagle: We continue to invest to help local authorities root out Housing Benefit fraud. We have provided over £100 million since 1998 so that local authorities can implement the Verification Framework which protects the gateway to benefit by setting out minimum standards for collecting evidence before claims are paid. Over 350 councils are now using the Royal Mail scheme to stop benefit cheques being re-directed from the address they have been claimed for. Our £2 million programme to make better use of IT has given 404 local authorities on-line access to essential benefit information held on departmental systems, reducing the scope for fraud and error. We are now building on this through the integrated enquiry service, which will give authorities access to further information to help combat fraud, including the Department's database of National Insurance numbers. We are working with 10 local authorities to pilot a single fraud hotline from January 2001, allowing the public to report suspected Housing Benefit fraud as well as suspicions of other benefit fraud. Our new anti-fraud incentive scheme is being phased in from next April and will make the gateway to Housing Benefit more secure, putting the focus on prevention as well as detection. The new scheme sets out the anti-fraud activities we expect local authorities to undertake, and it introduces new financial rewards for authorities that act to prevent fraud from happening in the first place.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

360 c73W; 141828

Session

2000-01

Question not reached

Yes

Subjects

Abuse Applications Benefits rules Housing benefit Fraud ICT Local government Pilot schemes Proof of identity Social security benefits Telephone services Royal Mail

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk