Why are housing and council tax benefits important to the Audit Commission?
Housing and council tax benefits (HB and CTB) directly relate to three of the Commission's five strategic objectives, to:
- challenge public bodies to deliver better value for money;
- promote high standards of governance and accountability; and
- encourage continual improvement in public services so they meet the changing needs of diverse communities and provide fair access for all.
English councils spend over £18 billion (2008/09) on HB and CTB payments. Other than an important issue for councils in terms of spending large amounts of public money, the services make a valuable contribution to many other important outcomes for local people. Inefficient benefit services can lead to people losing their homes. Well run services help to meet other important national priorities around reducing child poverty and improving independence for older people. Quick and accurate benefit payments give people confidence to take up work, in the knowledge that they will not face long delays in payment if the work ceases.