Issue - meetings

Report of Benefit Investigations Manager

Summary

The report is to bring the Council’s policy on Sanctions in line with the Department for Work & Pensions policy.  In doing so, we offer a consistent approach to joint investigation work.  The policy will also introduce 2 small amendments which will help target the more serious abuse of the system and assist in reacting to the current recession.  However, the policy will remain fit for purpose following the Country coming out of recession.

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee is recommended to:

(1)               Adopt the new policy.

The Committee considered a report of the Benefits Investigations Manager which presented a revised Sanctions Policy to bring the Council’s policy on Sanctions in line with the Department for Work and Pensions policy. The policy would introduce two small amendments which would help target the more serious abuse of the system and assist in reacting to the current recession. The policy would however remain fit for purpose following the country coming out of recession.

The Benefits Investigation Manager gave a presentation updating Members on the structure and work of the Benefits Investigation Team. The Committee was advised that the Team had a high success rate for detecting, investigating and, where appropriate, prosecuting fraudulent benefit claims.

In response to Members’ questions, the Benefits Investigations Manager advised the Committee that the Benefits Investigations Team were currently working towards the new standards and followed the approach of the Department for Work and Pensions. The Committee was advised that the Benefits Investigation Team worked closely with the Corporate Debt Recovery Team which sought to recover the debt that had been identified and recommended for recovery by the Benefits Investigation team.

Resolved

1)                   That the new Sanctions Policy be adopted.