The Council intends to adopt a risk based approach for determining evidence requirements in support of new claims for housing benefit.  The Department for Work and Pensions have advised that any local authority taking this approach must have a policy in place stating the evidence required for each risk category.  This report will contain that policy.

The Head of Customer Services submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended).

Resolved to adopt the process of risk based verification for housing benefit and Council Tax benefit claims in accordance with the policy the report describes.