11 July 2003
The minister charged with tackling delays in housing benefit payments across UK councils has acknowledged that millions of pounds earmarked for improvements this week will not be enough to eradicate problems.
Chris Pond, who was given the housing benefit portfolio at the Department for Work and Pensions following the recent Cabinet reshuffle, warned 'there will be no magic wand solutions' to delays in some councils, despite ploughing £33m into initiatives on July 8.
Pond told Public Finance that many local authorities face 'serious' delays in processing housing benefit, often because they have inadequate IT systems or staff shortages.
According to a recent poll, Pond's own constituency, Gravesham in Kent, is the worst-performing local authority in terms of housing benefit payments.
Recipients wait an average of 97 days for funds, leaving many exposed to potential eviction. That compares with a government target of 36 days.
But Pond believes the £33m cash injection for projects across 212 local councils – part of a three-year £200m project to improve the system – will help the situation.
'We feel the cash will help "snowball" improvements throughout councils and we will release a second tranche of funding for 2004/05 with the intention of building on improvements this year. This will be a gradual but lasting process.'
Pond was given a boost last week when a report by the local government ombudsman revealed the number of complaints relating to housing benefit payments halved over the past year.
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