The Verification Framework
This is an initiative by the Government. It sets out rules for
Local Authorities that must be adhered to when processing claims
for benefit.
By its very name, the Verification Framework ensures that each
claim for benefit has been correctly verified. There are national
rules regarding what degree of evidence we need from you before we
can process your claim.
We need to see original documents, photocopies will not
be accepted.
When sending in your application form, please do not send
valuable documents through the post such as Benefit Books, or Birth
Certificates. If possible, please bring such documents to the
Civic offices. If you are unable to visit the Civic Offices,
then please contact us and we may (in certain circumstances) be
able to arrange a visit to you.
All of your documents will be photocopied by the Benefit Section
and returned to you.
Other Important Information
How do we pay?
The Council pays Council Tax Benefit direct to the Council Tax
Account. The Council pays Housing Benefit by cheque four weeks in
arrears to the tenant, or the landlord direct in certain
circumstances.
Changes in Circumstances
During each benefit period you may have certain changes in your
circumstances, such as a change of job, the receipt of another
state benefit, or someone moving in, or out of your house. You must
notify this office of all changes in your circumstances, in
writing, as soon as they happen.
Increases in Benefit: if you do not tell us
about a change within one month of the change then you may lose out
on benefit. Do not assume that the Department of Works and Pensions
will notify this office on your behalf. If in doubt, telephone this
office for advice, or write to us with the information that you
have. We will then decide whether or not this information will
change your benefit.
Reductions in Benefit: if you do not inform us
of a change in your circumstances, and we find out about the change
at a later date then your benefit will be amended from the date of
the change, and any resulting overpayment of benefit will be
recovered from you.
Wilful failure to inform us of a change in your circumstances is
a criminal offence and could lead to prosecution.
What you can Expect from the Council
When you send an application form, or any other documents to us
we will deal with that information as soon as possible. If your
claim form is ready to be processed then your claim should be
assessed within 14 days of us receiving all information regarding
your claim.
You should try and include all of the information that we ask
for. If you cannot do this straight away then send the form in
first and then send the other information later. If your claim is
incomplete then we will contact you as soon as possible to request
the information that we need. We may telephone you first so that we
can tell you what information you need to send to us.
If you send in a letter, or details of a change in
circumstances, then you should get a reply within 14 days of the
information arriving at this office.