We are reviewing residents' housing benefits and council tax support claims as part of the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) Housing Benefit Award Accuracy initiative.
This is a new initiative to ensure benefit awards are correct and that those who are entitled get the right amount.
Why have I been contacted to review my housing benefit claim?
The DWP has issued a list of the top 400,000 housing benefit cases identified nationally by risk score. The risk model predicts the probability of the claimant having had a change of circumstances.
We have selected the highest scoring H&F cases from the DWP list and are contacting the claimants to let them know we need to carry out an FCR.
If you have received a letter advising you about this and directing you to this page of our website, you need to click on the link below and complete the online form with your details.
You will be asked to provide details of your current circumstances such as your household's income, any savings and investments you hold and about anyone who currently lives with you.
This form is only for people who have received a letter from us about the review and cannot be used to make a new claim for housing benefit or council tax support.
If you want to make a new claim please go to Make a new claim.
If you have any difficulties completing the form or any questions about the review, you can call us on 020 8753 6681 or email benefits@lbhf.gov.uk
It is important that you complete this form if you have been sent a letter by us asking you to do this.
This form is for people who have received a letter from us about the review.
Providing evidence
If you need to provide evidence as part of the review you can do this by uploading to the form or sending it to us by email via benefits@lbhf.gov.uk
Please make electronic copies of your documents and upload them to the online form or email them to us.
If you are emailing us information, please put your housing benefit and or council tax support reference in the subject line along with the words Housing Benefit Review.
Please ensure that any photographs of any information or evidence you send are clear to avoid causing any unnecessary delays. You must also include your name and address in the main body of the email.
Background information
The Housing Benefit Award Accuracy is a new initiative from the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) to ensure awards of housing benefit are correct, and that those who are entitled, get the right amount.
The Housing Benefit Award Accuracy initiative is funded by Department for Work & Pensions requires us to undertake mandated activities to identify unreported changes of circumstances. The mandated activities are:
- HB Full Case Reviews
- HB Matching Service referrals, including self-employed Earnings Reviews
Full Case Review (FCR)
This means we need claimants to complete the short claim form and supply all current details and evidence in order for their housing benefit entitlement to be checked and if necessary re-determined.