Title
Contents
Acknowledgements 6
The Authors 7
Summary 8
1 Introduction 11
1.1 Policy context 12
1.1.1 Fraud and error across the social security system: the big picture 12
1.1.2 Fraud and error in Housing Benefit 13
1.1.3 Policy responses to date 14
1.2 The aims and objectives of the study 14
1.3 Research design and methods 15
1.4 Sampling and recruitment 17
1.5 Structure of the report 18
2 Claimants' knowledge and understanding of reporting changes in circumstances 19
2.1 Awareness of the requirement to report changes in circumstances 19
2.2 What kinds of change are reportable? 20
2.2.1 Paid work 21
2.2.2 Other changes to household income or capital 22
2.2.3 Home and household changes 23
2.2.4 Other changes 24
2.3 Claimants' sources of knowledge and views on their adequacy 24
2.3.1 Official sources of information 25
2.3.2 Claimants' views on official sources of information 25
2.3.3 Other agencies 27
2.3.4 Informal and other sources of knowledge 27
2.4 Discussion 28
3 Reporting changes in circumstances: influences on behaviour 29
3.1 Knowledge and understanding of the requirement to report changes 29
3.1.1 Conceptualisation of 'change' in circumstances 29
3.1.2 Concern to comply with obligations 31
3.1.3 Perceived financial consequences of reporting a change in circumstances 31
3.2 Understanding and experiences of the benefit system 32
3.2.1 Understanding the benefit eligibility criteria 33
3.2.2 Previous experiences of benefit administration 33
3.2.3 Interaction of benefits and tax systems 34
3.3 Context of the change in circumstances 35
3.4 Discussion 35
4 Experiences and consequences of reporting changes in circumstances 37
4.1 Methods of reporting changes in circumstances 38
4.2 Experiences of reporting changes in circumstances 39
4.3 Consequences of informing about change 40
4.3.1 Uncertainty 40
4.3.2 Financial insecurity 40
4.3.3 Stress, confusion and annoyance 40
4.4 Experience of benefit overpayment and overpayment recovery 41
4.5 Discussion 42
5 Conclusions, discussion and policy implications 43
5.1 Introduction 43
5.2 Barriers to reporting changes in circumstances 43
5.2.1 Knowledge deficits 44
5.2.2 Reporting channels 45
5.2.3 Consequences of reporting a change in circumstances 45
5.3 Policy implications 46
5.3.1 Structural options 46
5.3.2 Administrative options 47
5.4 Concluding remarks 48
Appendix: Topic guides
1. CURRENT SITUATION AND BACKGROUND 50
2. VIEWS AND EXPERIENCE OF THE BENEFITS SYSTEM 51
3. EXPERIENCE OF THE BENEFITS SYSTEM AND MAKING CLAIMS 51
4. ESTABLISHING DIFFERENCES and EVENTS DURING MOST RECENT CLAIM 52
5. EXPLORING EXPERIENCE OF CHANGES SINCE CLAIM 53
6. EXPECTED OR HYPOTHETICAL CHANGES 55
7. INFORMATION SOURCES 55
8. EXPERIENCE OF OVERPAYMENTS 56
9. CONCLUSION 57
References
Table 1.1 Housing Benefit losses due to fraud and error 2002 - 2007 (as % of benefit expenditure) 13
Table 1.2 Design of study 16
Table 1.3 Achieved sample 17
Figure 1.1 Total overpaid benefit expenditure between 2000/01 and 2005/06 13