I apologise at the onset for the long winded messages and would appreciate any comments and particularly experience of other LA Welfare Rights Units.


We are a LA Welfare Rights Unit and our H/B section are almost demanding that we conduct home visits for their vulnerable claimants to complete H/B & CTB forms and undertake the verification work. I'm of the opinion that we should not be involved in the assessment process to preserve our independant and impartial status.

Their argument is that it is a 'welfare visit' and comes under our remit.

I remember reading somewhere, but can't remeber where, that LA's receive additional money from DWP specifically to ensure full take-up of H/B & CTB, and in the main to include vulnerable groups such as elderly, disabled and infirm. Any help in support of my case would be very much appreciated.

Bloody cheek!

I don't know what your mission statement says but would imagine its the standard that you provide a service to all residents in your area. Allowing HB to dictate to this level compromises that. Guarantee you go along with this the demands on you will continue and you might as well move in to the HB section.

This is a short response as what I really wanted to say was unprintable.

Used to work for LA welfare rights unit. We were not required to do anything like this and if we were i would never have agreed to it - quite frankly i think it's appalling.

I would of thought that your boss (if you have one) should be taking this matter up with the boss of the HB section.

If not involve some councillors who are supportive and see what they can do for you.

You're so right, this type of thing could completely undermine your unit.

Thanks for your response. I'd very much like to discuss this further, my contact number is 01753 476715. Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards

Jas

It might be useful to remind housing benefit that when they signed up to do the verification framework the incentive was extra money. If you have a copy of the original verification framework (it was explained in several housing benefit circulars) it included that on the visits to people they should check people's benefit entitlement to other benefits.
Now we are talking a long time ago. At the time I highlighted this wonderful offer when doing consultancy work with housing assocations about the impact of its introduction.
Naturally the extra money was not used for this by 90% of local authorities. In their defence they found the whole process plunged them into chaos. I saw some very good councils housing benefit sections sink. But at least one council i worked with said they were committed to provide this service. It didnt happen I'm afraid. But they are still getting the money at the moment even though the aim of the verification framework (to prevent fraud) has been replaced by SAFE. (Security against fraud) Another story.
So perhaps if you remind them of reason they get the extra money you could offer to train the housing benefit staff to do this useful task which would make their jobs more satisfying and rewarding!