09 December 2005
Scotland's housing associations want the way councils administer housing benefit to be reformed.
A report on a survey, commissioned by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and carried out by consultants Tribal HCH, said: 'Well-structured and negotiated partnership working… are the main preferences expressed by associations.'
The results of the survey were disclosed at the SFHA's annual conference in Edinburgh this week.
The report said there was 'significant dissatisfaction among associations with the service in many council areas, with a number of associations expressing interest in administering claims themselves'.
Sheila Gilmore, City of Edinburgh Council executive member for housing, suggested that administrative problems were often caused by rapid changes of circumstances.
The complaints centred on: delays in processing new claims and in taking action over changes of circumstances; errors; a lack of sensitivity; poor communications; unhelpful payment cycles; and an unwillingness to use a framework that enables housing associations to verify benefit claims from tenants on behalf of a council.
In Scotland, 165,100 housing association tenants receive housing benefit, which covers 55% of total income. About £8m in benefits is processed each week on behalf of housing association tenants.
The report notes that current Audit Scotland performance indicators for Scottish local authorities are too broad and do not identify performance in relation to association tenants.
Scotland's housing associations want the way councils administer housing benefit to be reformed.
A report on a survey, commissioned by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and carried out by consultants Tribal HCH, said: 'Well-structured and negotiated partnership working… are the main preferences expressed by associations.'
The results of the survey were disclosed at the SFHA's annual conference in Edinburgh this week.
The report said there was 'significant dissatisfaction among associations with the service in many council areas, with a number of associations expressing interest in administering claims themselves'.
Sheila Gilmore, City of Edinburgh Council executive member for housing, suggested that administrative problems were often caused by rapid changes of circumstances.
The complaints centred on: delays in processing new claims and in taking action over changes of circumstances; errors; a lack of sensitivity; poor communications; unhelpful payment cycles; and an unwillingness to use a framework that enables housing associations to verify benefit claims from tenants on behalf of a council.
In Scotland, 165,100 housing association tenants receive housing benefit, which covers 55% of total income. About £8m in benefits is processed each week on behalf of housing association tenants.
The report notes that current Audit Scotland performance indicators for Scottish local authorities are too broad and do not identify performance in relation to association tenants.
PFdec2005
