Combating Housing Benefit fraud: local authorities' discretionary powers

In November 1997, local authorities were granted new discretionary powers designed to combat Housing Benefit fraud. These were (i) the ability to stop or refuse to make direct payments of benefit to landlords considered 'not fit and proper' persons and (ii) extended powers to suspend payments from claimants where entitlement is uncertain, for example if there is doubt about a person's continued occupation of a dwelling. This research explored local authorities' use of and attitudes towards these new powers. It was based on telephone interviews with Housing Benefit managers