Housing Benefit
The studies in this section review UK experiences of outsourcing housing benefit services, from both local and national perspectives. Experiences to date suggest varying degrees of success, but there is common consensus amongst commentators that outsourcing housing benefit services can lead to improvements - provided that the right contractual and partnership arrangements are made.
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Housing Benefit: Great Britain in Comparative Perspective
Kemp, Professor Peter A. , 2006
The aim of this paper is to examine in comparative perspective Britain's current housing benefit scheme and its planned replacement. It intends to show that the Labour government's reforms do provide radical change to the British housing benefit system.
Housing Vouchers in the United States, Great Britain, and the Netherlands: Current Issues and Future Perspectives (PDF)
Kemp, Professor Peter A., Priemus, Professor Hugo and Varady, Professor David P., 2005
This article provides a comparison on the housing voucher systems mainly between the US and European systems. The benefits and weaknesses of each country's housing voucher system are analysed. This information is then used to suggest what each system can learn from the others to improve their own housing voucher system.
UK
Local Authority Experience in Outsourcing Housing and Council Tax Benefits (PDF)
Department for Work and Pensions, 2003
Building Choice and Responsibility: A Radical Agenda for Housing Benefit
Department for Works and Pensions, 2002
This document from the Department for Work and Pensions is a statement of the government's intentions for reforming Housing Benefit. It explains the case for reform, concluding that the reform of housing benefit is essential. Also, it provides detailed information on the objectives and the wider strategy behind the government's proposed reforms.
UK
Housing Benefit - The National Perspective (PDF) Audit Commission, 2002 This briefing paper provides a summary of the Audit Commission's extensive report 'Housing Benefit: The National Perspective', which details the contribution central government can make to solving problems in the UK's housing benefits system. UK
Housing Benefit Administration: Learning from Inspection (PDF)
Audit Commission, 2001
This paper is from the Audit Commission series 'Learning from Inspection'. These papers are based on the lessons emerging from best value inspection and other research. It is intended primarily for relevant members and senior officers who need an overview of the main issues facing the housing benefit service, and is not meant as an exhaustive guide for those officers managing the service directly.
Housing Benefit Contract Administration The London Borough of Lambeth Council and Capita, 2001 Briefing Paper UK
Report by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate: London Borough of Camden (Web Page) Benefit Fraud Inspectorate, 2001 The report covers Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit administration and security in the London Borough of Lambeth. The report concludes that the administration of these benefits was deficient. In contracting out its benefit services to Capita Business, although the contracts were adequate, management of the contracts have been poor. UK
Housing Benefits Service Final Report (Web Page) Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee, London Borough of Lambeth, 2000 Lambeth Council contracted out its housing benefits service to Capita Business Services. The committee reports its evidence to show that Capita have provided a poor service which was deficient in many respects. A complacent attitude on the part of the Council was taken in regards to ensuring the contractor met its targets, with no financial penalties for non-delivery and underperformance. The report concludes with recommendations and an 'action plan' for remedial action. UK