Direction of Wyre Forest District Council under the Housing
Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Electronic Communications)
(Miscellaneous Benefits) Order 2006 (SI Number 2968)
Wyre Forest District Council, (“the Authority”) in accordance
with the above order and the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006, and
Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006, the Housing Benefit (Persons
who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit)
Regulations 2006, the Council Tax Benefit (Persons who have
attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations
2006, (“the 2006 regulations”) hereby makes the following
directions-
An individual who, in accordance with the 2006 Regulations makes a
claim for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit under the Social
Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 is authorised to do so
by an electronic communication, provided that the individual uses
the method approved by the Authority in relation to the
claim.
The methods acceptable to the authority are as follows:
New Claims
- By the authority’s approved electronic form;
- By completion of a claim by a visiting officer of the Council
using the authority’s approved electronic form;
Change in Circumstances
- By completion of the authority’s approved electronic changes of
circumstances form;
- By completion of a changes of circumstances form by a visiting
officer of the Council using the authority’s approved electronic
form;
- By issuing an email with all details required by the
authority;
It should be noted that although new claims/changes of
circumstances can be made electronically, there will be a
requirement to provide additional documentation in certain
circumstances outlined below; examples include but note limited to
:
Claim Type
|
Claim Section/Details
|
Further Documentary Evidence
Required
|
Owner Occupier
|
|
|
|
Details of Council Tax |
Not Required |
|
Details of Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance Income based
or Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit) or Pension Credit (Savings
Credit)
|
Not Required
|
|
Details of Identity
|
The authority will need to see two forms of ID (one of which
should include your National Insurance Number (NINO) (as well as
the NINO for your partner)
|
Change of circumstance
|
|
|
|
Increase in occupational pension
|
Pension slip showing increase required
|
|
Non Dependent leaving the household
|
Not required - although the authority would require a
forwarding address
|
|
Increase/Decrease in earnings
|
Payslips showing increase/decrease required
|
Authentication
The authority will need to authenticate any claim/change of
circumstances presented by the claimant and this will be achieved
by;
- In the case of a new claim, the claimant completing the
registration process for new claimants included within the on line
claim form
- In the case of change in circumstance;
- By submitting the change using the claimants registration
details set up with the authority or;
- By using the email address registered as the claimants with the
authority
It should be noted that where a claim is made or a change is
reported using the claimant’s details, the claimant will be
responsible for the validity and accuracy of any statements
made.
Where it is considered appropriate, the authority may decide to
accept receipt of the claim/change of circumstance by this method
and may ask the claimant to complete additional
documentation.
Submitting a claim or notification
The authority will acknowledge any claim or notification received
through the approved channels. Where an acknowledgement is not
received then the claimant is advised to contact the authority
directly.
The authority will not be held responsible for non receipt of any
claim or notification of change.
Claimants are advised to keep records of any claims/change of
circumstance submitted in case of query or appeal.
Signed by
Walter Delin
Chief Executive