Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Accepted
DWP's current data improvements for supported housing claims only apply to new cases.
Conclusion
While DWP collects data from local authorities, this does not include people living in supported housing who are not in receipt of Housing Benefit.26 Before April 2022, DWP could not differentiate whether Housing Benefit claims were for supported housing. Since April 2022, DWP has made attempts to improve the data by requiring local authorities to improve the way they identified and reported each new Housing Benefit claim when it relates to specified accommodation (when accommodation is paid through Housing Benefit), and if so, what type. DWP accepts that this will not immediately improve data quality, as it only applies to new claims. In March 2023, DWP provided local authorities with £4.79 million of funding to review their existing Housing Benefit claims to identify and record if claims are for specified accommodation and, if so, what type.27
Government Response Summary
The government agrees, with a Summer 2024 target. It details existing investments for improving new Housing Benefit claims data, the £4.79 million funding for reviewing existing claims by March 2024, and future monitoring, further supported by new Act duties for strategic plans and a licensing regime to capture sector data.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2024 3.2 The government recognises that data is limited, and that better quality data would support evidence-based decision making. 3.3 DLUHC has commissioned research to provide an up-to-date assessment of the sector, which is due to be published in early 2024. Following this, a second research project will set out the benefits and outcomes delivered by supported housing. 3.4 In 2022, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) made investments to deliver improvements to local authority (LA) IT systems, to accurately record all new Housing Benefit claims. This has substantially improved data quality for new claims. DWP has contacted LAs with lists of incorrectly recorded new claims for them to make necessary changes. 3.5 DWP has also taken action to improve data on existing claims. LAs have been awarded £4.79 million in additional New Burdens funding to review their Housing Benefit caseload and set the supported housing status accurately. This review is to be completed by 31 March 2024. DWP is monitoring administrative data to identify LAs’ progress with the case review and will continue to do so until March 2024. 3.6 From April 2024, these changes will ensure DWP has robust data enabling it to quantify the scale and cost of specified accommodation. DWP will continue to monitor new Housing Benefit claims to ensure that data quality is maintained. 3.7 The Act places new duties on local housing authorities to produce supported housing strategic plans and introduces a licensing regime. These measures will allow DLUHC to capture information on the supply and demand of supported housing and provide a better understanding of the sector. Details will be consulted on in early 2024 and DLUHC will also carry out a New Burdens assessment.