News story

1st July 2002

Delays to Housing Benefit Totally Unacceptable

Steve Webb MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work & Pensions Secretary, today released new figures which show that people claiming Housing Benefit from 12 district councils in the region are having to wait more than two months to have their applications processed.

The figures from the Department of Work & Pensions, which come in response to a Parliamentary Written Question from Professor Webb, show that four councils in Norfolk (Norwich, Breckland, North Norfolk and Great Yarmouth), four councils in Suffolk (St Edmundsbury, Mid Suffolk, Waveney, Babergh) and four in Essex (Maldon, Chelmsford, Epping Forest and Southend) are taking up to 118 days to process applications. Guidelines for ‘best value’ issued by the Department of Work and Pensions state that local authorities should take only 14 days to process applications once they have received all the relevant documents.

Commenting Professor Webb said:

“It is simply unacceptable that so many claimants are being forced to wait over two months to receive the money that they need to put a roof over their head.

“It is time for the Government to wake up and realise that the Housing Benefit system is in crisis. We need a system that is simpler and quicker for local authorities to administer. Otherwise we will be seeing more and more people forced out onto the streets because of rent arrears.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

In response to a Parliamentary Written Question from Steve Webb MP, the Department of Work Pensions issued the following figures for the average number of days local authorities in take to process new housing benefit applications:

Written Answer from Malcolm Wicks MP, Monday 24th June 2002 (PQ/02/63692):

Average time taken by local authorities to process new housing benefit claims (days):

Norfolk
Breckland 118
Norwich 93
Kings Lynn & West Norfolk 52
North Norfolk 86
Broadland 51
Great Yarmouth 74
South Norfolk 62

Suffolk
Forest Heath 44
St Edmundsbury 74
Mid Suffolk 70
Waveney 71
Suffolk Coastal 24
Ipswich 40
Babergh 68

Essex
Uttlesford 51
Braintree 47
Colchester 46
Tendring 62
Malden 76
Rochford 42
Castle Point 63
Basildon 33
Chelmsford 66
Brentwood 54
Epping Forest 75
Harlow 27
Southend 70
Thurrock 40