Housing Benefit Subsidy Service

To provide service which demonstrates the below

a) Subsidy Maximisation

• Guidance on the processes which need to be run to enable the claim to be submitted.
• Guidance upon the work required following the production of the reports produced (i.e. where intervention is required by assessment staff).
• Reconciliation of I-World subsidy reports.
• Investigation and resolution of I-World subsidy discrepancies.
• Reconciliation of I-World posting reports to feeder systems and the General Ledger.
• Reconciliation of cancelled and out of date cheques to ensure they are reflected correctly within the final claim.
• Ensure the correct allocation of manual adjustments to the appropriate cells within the final claim form.
• Variance analysis to previous year's audited claim and investigation of major variances.
• Sampling of values within subsidy to identify any anomalies.
• Assist with the audit and resolve any queries which may arise with a view to protecting the Authorities subsidy position.
• Working with the service to improve quality going forward
• Assistance with Finance Service to ensure required subsidy related and other government returns are accurately submitted in a timely manner
• Assistance with compilation of reporting data to Senior Managers and members

b) Audit Testing

• Performing initial testing and 40+ and any other further testing for the Final Grant Claim, for sample re-performance by the designated External Auditors
• Management of and co-ordination with audit staff - internal and external
• Provision of in-year data analysis and statistical information around benefit entitlements, payments, overpayments, recoveries and quality issues (errors), as relevant, to inform management decisions and action around Service performance improvements.
• In year service-related audit testing, housekeeping reporting/ management and correction work
• Facilitation of internal auditors in managing planned audits

c) Subsidy Financial Services:

• Weekly reviewing of audit trails
• Weekly review of Sub030 subsidy report & completion of reconciliation
• Weekly update from Sub030 Report of cell values for overpayments
• Weekly review of subsidy risk cells
• Annual compilation of 1st advance claim, for review & sign off
• Annual compilation of 2nd advance claim, for review & sign off
• Annual compilation of pre-audit year-end final claim for review and sign off
• Assist annually in the audit process of the final claim, including initial and subsequent testing for audit re performance as required
• Weekly reconciliation of reports for Rent rebates
• Weekly recording and monitor of all Benefits BACs payments
• Assisting annually in the Closing of Accounts process in reviewing the level of bad debt provision for HB, against the debt reported on the relevant IWORLD reports
• Provision of HB data for CIPFA Housing or benchmarking returns, as and when required
• Assistance with reasonable provision of other subsidy related reporting not listed here.