Section: Benefits & Grants

News in Brief

Pensions Secretary Peter Hain confirmed he has ordered a review of the 16-hour rule, which prevents people claiming Housing Benefit if they study for more than 16 hours a week. The 16-hour rule has attracted widespread criticism, particularly from homelessness organisations.

Mr Hain was speaking at the launch of the Institute for Public Policy Research publication It's all about you: citizen-centred welfare. The paper proposes replacing the Jobseeker's Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and Income Support with a single benefit for people of working age.

Responding to a question about the connection between the Housing Benefit system and worklessness, Mr Hain expressed particular concern about the situation in London, where high levels of deprivation mean the 'better-off' calculation is not achieving the objective of getting people into work. He suggested that the high cost of housing and childcare in the Capital requires special consideration.

Note: Better-off calculations allow staff at Jobcentre Plus to show benefit claimants how their financial situation would change if they took jobs at certain income levels.
IBS OPENSystems, a provider of software and services to local authorities, announced an exclusive partnership with IEG4 Limited. Under the partnership, IBS will distribute its web-based application for processing claims for Benefit.

The online application enables residents and agencies to process and report changes to Benefit claims electronically. The online application replaces a 30-page hard copy form, so Benefit departments can automate processes and reduce the time spent re-keying claimant information.

The application was originally developed by IEG4 for Lewisham Council and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. The form has now been enhanced and integrated with IBS OPENSystems' Benefits system at Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (MBC). IBS' system has already enabled Stockport MBC to reduce its Benefit processing times from 86 to 21 days and generate annual savings of £270,000.

Section: Benefits & Grants

News in Brief

Housing Monthly Diary

Reporting on September 2007

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