Verification Framework and home visits

What is the Verification Framework?

The Verification Framework (VF) is a set of guidelines provided by the government on what information is needed before your benefit can be worked out. These guidelines are issued with a view to eliminating fraud from within the benefit system. They are also designed to remove errors from the assessment of benefit.

What does this mean?

The Council must now see original documents, photocopies are not accepted. The documents are then checked, copied and certified by officers who are trained in dealing with fraudulent documents.

We conduct home visits to check that all the details that we hold are up to date. Under the Verification Framework, every claimant must be visited at home at least once. Home visits are made by Revenues and Benefits Officers who carry laminated photo ID cards. If you are in any doubt as to the identity of the caller please get in touch with us.

The Housing Benefit application form must be must be fully completed and all questions answered. Putting ‘n/a’ on a form is no longer acceptable. Any tick boxes on the form must be completed with a ‘tick’. If an ‘X’ is put in a box the form will have to be returned.

Claimants must provide 2 pieces of identification (please see below) and proof of their National Insurance number. The same must be provided for a partner, if applicable.

What are acceptable proofs of identification?

• Bank statements dated within the last 4 weeks
• Benefit order books
• Birth certificates
• Credit cards (please note these will be noted as having been seen but NOT copied)
• Driving Licenses
• Marriage Certificates
• Medical Cards
• Utility Bills
• Passports

More information

For further help and advice please contact the Housing Benefits Team.