Supplementary Memorandum
submitted by Department of Social Security (MISC 16)
Q.300—CLAIM
CLOSURE NOTICES
AND REMOTE
ACCESS TERMINALS
The Benefits Agency (BA) currently inform Local
Authorities (LAs) about Income Support (IS) and Job Seekers Allowance
(Income Based) (JSA(IB)) claimants who are also claiming Housing
or Council Tax Benefit when:
— a new claim for IS or JSA(IB) is awarded;
— there is a change of circumstance during
the life of the claim;
— the claim is terminated.
LAs also send forms to BA when:
— they receive a new claim to HB or CTB
and the claimant says he or she is also in receipt of IS or JSA;
— they have reason to doubt that IS or
JSA is still in payment for an existing HB/CTB claim.
The provision of Remote Access Terminals (RATs)
allows LAs to have on-line access to DSS benefit systems enabling
them to answer most of the enquiries which they currently address
to BA.
Under the present system the transfer of information
from BA to LAs is by computer generated paper forms. In the London
Borough of Lewisham the Department is piloting an initiative which
uses electronic versions of the forms. The LA uses a RAT to download
new information from the IS and JSA computer systems.
Plans are currently being developed for a national
rollout of the electronic forms by the end of April 1999. This
will coincide with the completion of the national rollout of RATs
to LAs. This new functionality should lead to speedier processing
by LAs and a reduction in the need for paper forms to be exchanged
between the two organisations.
16 September 1998
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