Does DWP inform LA when State Retirement Pension is paid?

This may be a silly question, I don’t know…
Would the DWP normally inform a Local Authority when it starts paying state retirement pension to a HB/CTR claimant in the same way that it notifies LA about ESA/JSA etc., stopping and starting?
Haven’t got the full facts yet but HB and CTR overpayment being claimed on basis that LA was not aware that claimant was receiving state pension. He was previous getting Incap Ben and private pension when claimed HB in Aug 12, Incap claim stopped when SRP put into payment following 65th birthday in May 13. Overpayment raised March 14.
Yes, he should have informed LA that SRP started but I am wondering if it will have been informed anyway?

Hi Tony, thanks for that.
The local authority is now admitting that it was informed by the DWP/Pension Service that SRP was in payment. However, it is saying that it was not notified until about 10 months later, hence o/p.
Do you know if Incap Ben award ending would also be notified to council in same way that Income Support/Pension Credit, etc., would be?
I appreciate that client may still be on a sticky wicket with this but would like to carry on exploring any evidence that may ultimately help.

“Do you know if Incap Ben award ending would also be notified to council in same way that Income Support/Pension Credit, etc., would be”?

Yes it usually would be.

Hi Tony

I have access to our Housing Benefit department’s computerised record of claims and claim history so I can go in and see all information and activity on any claim and copies of all documents sent and received.  Notifications of DWP benefit awards and changes are notified to the LA electronically pro-forma.  There is a particular word for this the name of which escapes me for the moment.

Atlas.  That’s it.  I’ve been trying to think of that all day.

“Do they notify awards and changes for all benefits and allowances”?

I’m not sure but LA’s and the DWP communicate far more effectively with each other than they used to do, which is useful.

Atlas only affects means tested round these parts but having had a long conversation with our local HB staff I wouldn’t be surprised if more info was available with a more recent system than we use.

A Subject Access Request would be in order if it were me…

I’ve seen awards of con/ESA notified.

I was told yesterday that Incap Benefit awards/terminations are notified too

In addition, LA benefit departments can access benefit info via CIS. I gather this is generally used to check when claimants notify receipt of benefit income. Of course, it doesn’t remove the responsibility for reporting income.

I have noted a couple of issues with the tax credit information held on the LA system and HMRC. This could be because HMRC doesn’t update it immediately, but I can’t be sure.