Guidance

LA Welfare Direct 4/2021

Updated 20 December 2021

Contact

If you have queries about the:

• technical content of this bulletin then contact details are given at the end of each article
• general content and distribution of this bulletin, contact: lawelfare.correspondence@dwp.gov.uk

Who should read

All Housing Benefit staff

Action

For information

Editorial

Welcome to another bumper issue of the LAWD. It is hard to believe we have already reached April 2021, spring, and another financial year. Where do the days, weeks and months disappear to?

This month’s set of articles are, as ever, many and varied. They demonstrate the depth and breadth of topics impacting on local authorities (LAs) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as we work together to support vulnerable citizens and minimise losses through fraud and error.

I’m particularly pleased to see 2 articles from members of my own team, who lead on the topic of data matching to detect fraud and error. Over a period of 5 years we’ve slowly but surely, step by step, worked to improve many aspects. This has included adding new data matching rules, switching off old rules, improving existing new rules, ensuring LAs were funded to action all cases from these rules, and much else besides.

As you’ll see from one article, this month we take a step towards removing the burdensome Housing Benefit Matching Service (HBMS) clerical management information (MI) returns. There needs to be period of dual running first but achieving this goal has been a longstanding one. At the same time, the changes introduce MI for the Personal Details Verification Report for the first time. This will allow us to performance manage this vitally important part of the HBMS rule suite for the first time; allowing us to further improve the accuracy of all other aspects of our data sharing with LAs.

The other article from my team relates to Land Registry data. We’re constantly looking out for new data sources that we could acquire, in order to add new data matching rules to detect more fraud and error. You’ll see from the article, that many LAs are already making good use of this data. In the coming months we also aim to be trialling many other new data sources, so expect to see further LAWD articles about these other data sources in the near future.

I said at the start of this Editorial that time just disappears. On a personal note, almost to the day, I’ve now been in my current job for 5 years, leading on every aspect of DWPs data sharing with LAs. I thoroughly enjoy the job and am proud of the improvements we have made in this time period, which many LA staff have personally fed back positively to me about in recent years. But we don’t rest on our laurels, we know we aren’t perfect. So, as ever, feel free to contact me or my team at any point, to let us know what more we could do to improve ourselves and our data sharing products.

Paul Selby
Deputy Divisional Manager
Local Authority Partnership, Engagement and Delivery (LA-PED) division

Extension of the supported housing oversight pilots for Birmingham, Blackburn, Blackpool and Hull

1. It was recently announced in pilots to improve supported housing for vulnerable people extended that 4 of the supported housing oversight pilots have been extended for 6 months. The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government are providing an additional £2.3 million to Birmingham, Blackburn, Blackpool and Hull as part of the extension.

2. These pilots have been extended so that councils can build on their work to improve the quality of accommodation, support for residents and value for money. The pilots will also strengthen enforcement in the sector, such as accommodation inspections, to crack down on the small number of landlords who provide poor-quality homes and inadequate support to the vulnerable people living there.

3. Bristol City Council has not submitted a bid for funding for phase 2 of the pilots but will still carry out inspections and monitoring of the city’s supported housing units in the coming months.

4. Any questions can be emailed to: housing.benefitenquiries@dwp.gov.uk

Payment Deduction Programme Files

5. An issue has been identified with the uploading of Payment Deduction Programme (PDP) files when using UNIX to tar files before uploading to Transfer Your Files (TYF).

6. These PDP files are uploaded to TYF without issue but are not processed by the Debt Management system. This means the files are not received by Debt Management. Neither LAs or Debt Management are notified of this.

7. Therefore, we urge local authorities (LAs) not to use UNIX and to use an alternative method to tar your PDP files.

8. If you have any questions relating to this article contact:lawelfare.lasupport@dwp.gov.uk

Debt Management and Payment Deduction Programme queries

9. In LAWD11/2019 we asked LAs to refrain from calling Debt Management with Payment Deduction Programme (PDP) queries. This was due to the volume of calls being received and resourcing pressures that Debt Management were experiencing. The pandemic added to these issues as Debt Management staff were re-deployed to manage other frontline activity.

10. In LAWD 2/2021 we advised that Debt Management anticipated that LAs will be able to raise queries regarding HB debt via PDP, from April 2021. However, this would need to be in a controlled manner initially to avoid overwhelming Contact Centre capacity.

11. It has now been agreed that Debt Management Contact Centre will open to receive LA PDP queries in 2 stages during May 2021, in order to control LA PDP enquiry volumes.

12. For ease, LAs have been split into 2 groups based on tranches used previously. Those LAs listed in tranche one and 2 will be able to raise PDP queries from 11 May 2021 and LAs in tranches 3 and 4 will follow 2 weeks later on 25 May 2021. See Annex A for details.

13. The number to call will be 0800 916 0647. LA should avoid calling on Mondays and Fridays as these are peak days for claimants calls. Debt Management has not placed a limit on the amount of queries LAs can raise, however LAs are asked to be reasonable as Debt Management anticipate a high volume of calls from authorities.

14. Debt Management will keep in view the volumes of LA calls made and may need to adjust the process in the future.

15. As a reminder Debt Management cannot advise on when debt recovery will start, how much it will be and when it is ending for individual Universal Credit (UC) cases. This is due to the fluctuating nature of UC and is determined by the circumstances of each case at the time of payment. LA staff should refer to circular HB A6/2016 (paragraph 22) for further clarification on this.

16. Debt Management is planning to implement some robotics in relation to processing deductions from Legacy benefits in the next few months. This should see improvements in the implementation times for deductions from these benefits.

17. If you have any questions regarding the content of this article email: lawelfare.lasupport@dwp.gov.uk

Enhanced automated capture and reporting of management information

18. The LA IT Supplier releases received for download between January and March 2021 provided changes to support the automated capture of management information (MI) for:

• Housing Benefit Award Accuracy (HBAA) Initiative
• Personal Details Verification Report (PDVR)

19. Note: If these releases have not been downloaded please ensure that they are as a matter of urgency.

HBAA Initiative

20. Tese releases provided changes to both ‘front end’ LA IT systems and the ‘back end’ Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) to support:

• improved accuracy in the recording of Risk Based Full Case Reviews
• automated reporting of Housing Benefit Matching Service (HBMS) referrals MI including Self Employment Referrals (SER)

21. DWP will monitor the accuracy of the recording of activity, by LAs, on ‘front end’ IT Systems and automated capture of HBMS MI, via SHBE, during 2021 to 2022, to inform the timing of the decommissioning of the clerical HBMS MI process.

22. Whilst this is ongoing LAs are asked to:

• continue to send clerical HBMS MI returns into DWP until further notice
• familiarise and assure compliance with the correct end to end recording of fraud intervention, change and error activity, on ‘front end’ IT Systems, in respect of HBMS/SER cases

PDVR

23. These releases also provided changes to ‘front end’ IT systems and SHBE to enable the recording and capture of MI in support of PDVR.

24. LAs are asked to:

• familiarise, and assure compliance with the correct end to end recording of activity on ‘front end’ IT Systems, in respect of PDVR cases

25. DWP will use this MI to inform process, data quality and MI capture continuous improvement activity.

Further information to support LAs

26. Further information can be sourced from LA IT Supplier release notes.

27. The LA Partnership, Engagement and Delivery division (LA-PED) also plan to issue further ‘front end’ IT process guidance to LAs, by the end of April 2021, to support the accurate recording of information for HBMS and PDVR MI.

28. If you have any enquiries in the releases or the new MI being recoded contact: lawelfare.lasupport@dwp.gov.uk

Land Registry data – awareness and good practice

29. LA-PED division is constantly seeking data sources that can support LAs in their action to reduce the fraud and error within HB.

30. HM Land Registry data can be used by LAs in England and Wales to cross reference claimant and landlord data that may support the reduction of fraud and error in HB. The rules are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

LA-PED discovery work

31. A joint working ‘deep dive’ exercise between LA-PED and a number of LAs was carried out in 2019 to understand if the data held by HM Land Registry was useable, available and of a quality that would result in the identification of fraud and error.

32. At that point LA-PED’s understanding was that this data could be used to identify individuals who own multiple properties and who either had high levels of rental income or substantial capital. The perception was that LAs either didn’t have access to the HM Land Registry data, or weren’t aware of this data source and its value.

33. The areas of interest covered in the deep dive were:

• contrived tenancies
• MI
• LA insight and view/experience
• LA processes (where they exist)
• possible issues
• the value of HM Land Registry data

34. Results of the deep dive showed that:

• HM Land Registry is already available to many LAs and is valued as one of the best tools to shed light on unknown connections
• many LAs use the data on a frequent basis with their systems already filtering out this kind of fraud by looking at these areas of the claim before approval
• many LAs use historical knowledge of their customer base, historical information on dwellings in the area and customer tax records supports this work
• contrived tenancies questionnaires are used for suspected landlords and tenants which provide further evidence before a claim is approved

35. This work clearly showed LA-PED that some LAs already have processes in place. Using this data provides LAs with the ability to stop fraud at the first point of contact.

36. LAs who are interested in obtaining further information on the HM Land Registry data and its use to reduce fraud and error in HB can contact: mark.browne@dwp.gov.uk.

The Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space)

37. The Debt Respite Scheme, Breathing Space is a 2017 initiative which aims to give people in debt the opportunity to take control of their finances and make their debt more manageable. Breathing Space gives someone in problem debt the right to legal protections from most creditor action.

38. The Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space Moratorium and Mental Health Crisis Moratorium) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020) comes into force in England and Wales on 4 May 2021.

39. The regulations will give people legal protection from most creditor action while they receive advice and enter an appropriate debt solution. This will include citizens who are debtors with the DWP and debts that DWP manage on behalf of other organisations, for example Tax Credit/LA HB debt and Third Party Deductions (TPDs). This also provides DWP with a more sustainable recovery plan in the long term.

40. On the 4 May 2021 all councils and other creditors are required to introduce the Debt Respite Scheme, Breathing Space. There are 2 types of Breathing Space:

Standard Breathing Space

• available to any citizen with problem debt. It gives them legal protections from creditor action for up to 60 days. The protections include pausing most enforcement action and contact from creditors, as well as freezing most interest and charges on their debts. Their representative (for example, someone the individual has given their consent to act in this capacity or some with legal documentation, such as Power of Attorney) can also apply on their behalf. A citizen can only access standard Breathing Space once in a 12-month period

Mental health crisis Breathing Space

• only available to a citizen who is receiving mental health crisis treatment. If an Approved Mental Health Professional certifies a citizen is in mental health crisis treatment, the citizen, or someone else acting on their behalf (see above example) might ask for a mental health crisis Breathing Space. The mental health crisis Breathing Space has some stronger protections than the standard Breathing Space. It lasts as long as the citizen’s mental health crisis treatment, plus 30 days (no matter how long the crisis treatment lasts). There is no limit on how many times a citizen who is receiving mental health crisis treatment can access Breathing Space

41. A Breathing Space can only be started by:

• a debt advice provider who is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to offer debt counselling
• an LA (where they provide debt advice to residents)

Rent and/or Council Tax arrears that are being recovered through DWP TPDs

42. As the LA is the creditor in these cases they will receive the notification from the Insolvency Service portal. DWP will not receive a notification for these cases. The LA will therefore need to instruct DWP to cease the deductions from the customer’s DWP benefit.

43. Where the deduction is from a Legacy benefit the LA will notify DWP to stop the deductions. The creditor template (see below) needs to be completed and sent to the dedicated email addresses. Instructions have been included in a tab within the template. This is the only way to notify DWP to both stop and restart deductions when Breathing Space moratorium has been put in place.

44. Deductions will not automatically restart at the end of the moratorium period, as the customer’s debt position may have changed and deductions may no longer be appropriate.

45. Where the deductions are being taken from the customer’s Universal Credit (UC) the LA should not take any action to stop the deductions, as UC TPDs are not currently included in the protections of Breathing Space – the debt advisor should not notify the LA in these circumstances.

Completion of the Creditor template

46. The creditor template (see Appendix A attached alongside this bulletin) should be completed when starting/ending Breathing Space. Please note mandatory fields are detailed in the instructions tab of the template.

47. The template can be used for multiple claimants and a mixture of start and ends. The template should be sent to DWP on a daily basis so that the appropriate actions can be taken within the 24 hours prescribed in the regulations.

Starting a Breathing Space

48. Below is the process for starting a Breathing Space:

• citizen contacts a qualified debt advisor to request help managing their debt
• the debt advisor considers the citizen’s circumstances and either approves the moratorium or declines the request as Breathing Space is not appropriate. If approved, the debt advisor issues a notification to the creditor advising them to commence Breathing Space
• when the creditor receives a moratorium from the Insolvency Service, the LA needs to complete the creditor template up to and including column H and Column I, selecting Start in column G which notifies DWP to start the moratorium. This should be sent to:
  • breathing.space@dwp.gov.uk for Working Age benefits
  • cwf.dundeepensioncentrededuction@dwp.gov.uk for Pension Age benefits
• do not use these email addresses for any other queries as they will not be actioned
• DWP will then validate details. If the details do not match, DWP will reject the request and inform the creditor. If the details do match, DWP will stop deductions and contact the creditor to confirm

Ending a Breathing Space

49. Below is the process for ending a Breathing Space:

• creditor should complete the creditor template up to and including Column I, selecting Stop in column G
• once competed you need to send it to send to:
  • breathing.space@dwp.gov.uk for Working Age benefits
  • cwf.dundeepensioncentrededuction@dwp.gov.uk for Pension Age benefits

50. You must advise DWP if you require Breathing Space to stop and restart deductions or if you require Breathing Space to stop with no restart using business as usual method.

HB debts that are being recovered through DWP Debt Management

51. Recovery of these debts will need to cease during the moratorium:

• as the LA is the creditor for the HB debt the LA will receive a notification from the Insolvency Service portal. When this happens the LA will instigate the return of the HB debt from DWP via the recall facility through the Payment Deduction Programme (PDP) interface. If the debt has already been returned by DWP then this action won’t be necessary
• where the customer with a HB debt being recovered via PDP also has DWP debt, DWP will receive a Breathing Space notification via the interface with the Insolvency Service portal. DWP debt systems will automatically stop recovery of all applicable debts held by Debt Management and this will include HB debt where it is held. The debt will be returned via the PDP interface using the return code, ‘Return to LA’
• at the end of the moratorium period, if required, the debt can be resubmitted to DWP for recovery once again using the business as usual process of referring a new HB debt via the PDP interface
• work is ongoing to assess the feasibility/cost of introducing a specific return code for Breathing Space – the necessity of this will be reviewed once volumes are better understood
• where the Debt is defined as Fraud we can continue to recover this throughout the moratoriums. These debts will not be returned by DWP unless recalled by the LA

If a new debt is created whilst a customer is in Breathing Space

52. If a new debt is created whilst a customer is in Breathing Space:

• then no new application for a Third Party Deduction or a debt deduction via Debt Management can be accepted
• debts should not be referred to DWP Debt Management. If they do get referred they will be rejected following business as usual processes

Changes to Discretionary Housing Payments for England and Wales to reduce the administrative burden on LAs

53. To help reduce the administrative burden on local authorities and streamline the Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) process we are making a number of changes which will be reflected retrospectively in legislation.

54. The requirement for an initial estimate has been removed from April 2021 with flexibility for the DWP to bring forward the date of initial DHP Government Contribution (GC) payments. For the initial payment we will pay 50% to each LA of their DHP GC, as announced in HB subsidy circular S4/2021. We will pay this by the end of April 2021.

55. The DHP GC mid-year mandatory form will require actual spend to mid-year instead of an estimate forecast spend to mid-year. To facilitate this, the date of issue and return will be flexible and we will advise of timings in due course.

56. If you have any questions email: lawelfare.laliaisonteam@dwp.gov.uk

Subsidy Guidance Manual 2020 to 2021

57. The Subsidy Guidance Manual that details the subsidies that DWP pays local authorities for certain costs of HB has been reviewed and updated for 2021. The guidance will be published on GOV.UK in the next few days.

Northamptonshire LA reorganisation

58. From 1 April 2021 the following changes to LAs in Northamptonshire have taken effect:

• Wellingborough, Kettering, Corby, and East Northamptonshire has merged to form North Northamptonshire Unitary Authority Daventry, Northampton and South Northamptonshire has merged to form West Northamptonshire Unitary Authority

59. Services previously carried out by Northamptonshire County Council will be divided between the 2 new Unitary Authorities.

Restarting face-to-face services in Jobcentre Plus offices

60. Jobcentre offices will be re-starting face to face appointments over April 2021 for all customers who need to be seen by their work coach. Appointments will re-commence from:

• 12 April 2021 for England and Wales
• 26 April 2021 for Scotland

61. Priority will be given to new customers and young people (aged 18 to 24) who are at risk of long term unemployment.

62. Customers will only need to attend a Jobcentre when asked to do so.

63. Jobcentre offices will continue to comply with existing COVID-19 regulations.

Further DWP led Engagement Events for LAs

64. In Autumn 2020 LA-PED held a series of virtual DWP engagement events with LAs and DWP Partnership Managers. These events were used to communicate what was happening in relation to HB and the UC Programme.

65. In 2021, we will continue delivering a rolling programme of ‘bite size’ one to 2 hour sessions. These will begin in Summer 2021 and will be delivered by audio conference or Microsoft Teams.

66. A timetable of the 2021 sessions along with joining instructions will be issued to LAs via their single inbox nearer the time. DWP Partnership Managers will also be invited to join any sessions they have an interest in.

67. We are in the process of developing the topics for each events, and we are committed to getting your thoughts on what to include at each one.

68. So, we’d be grateful if you could send your suggestions to: lawelfare.laliaisonteam@dwp.gov.uk by 30 April 2021, if possible, and use ‘LA-PED Engagement Events 2021 - Topics’ in your email subject header.

Cases with the Upper Tribunal

HB decisions by the Upper Tribunal

69. Decision Making and Appeals (DMA) Leeds are not aware of any cases that have been decided by the Upper Tribunal (UT).

70. A selection of decisions of the UT are published on administrative appeals tribunal decisions. Do be aware that there is an undefined time lapse between decisions being issued and their appearance on the website.

71. If you have any queries about cases before the UT Judges or courts, please contact us by email: quarryhouse.dmaleedscustomersupportservices@dwp.gov.uk

HB cases awaiting decision by the Upper Tribunal

72. Decision Making and Appeals (DMA) Leeds have been made aware of the following HB/CTB cases that are awaiting decision by the Upper Tribunal, since our previous General Information Bulletin entry in Jan 2021:

• CH/1519/20 – Concerns whether a decision on capital for JSA should bind the Housing Benefit Decision Maker
• CH/2716/19 – Issue on whether it was lawful to deny the claimant a derivative right to right reside as a primary carer of a child in education under Article 10 of the EU Regulation 492/11 and treated as an “exempt” person under the Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2016 because she was a jobseeker on the relevant dates. The judge suggests that such reading of the regulation 16(1)(a) of the Immigrations (EEA) Regulations makes it contrary to EU Law
• CH/1184/20 – Concerns the construction of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) regulations 33 and 62, i.e. the calculation of a weekly amount for income and rent free periods

New Legislation

73. The following Statutory Instrument (SI) has been laid:

• 25 February 2021 – The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) (amendment) Regulations 2021 (this is provisional and may change)
• 4 March 2021 – The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (General Levy) (Amendment) Regulations 2021
• 4 March 2021 – The Universal Credit (Childcare in Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2021
• 4 March 2021 – The Social Security (Claims and Payments, Employment and Support Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit) (Amendment) (Telephone and Video Assessment) Regulations 2021
• 8 March 2021 – The Social Security Revaluation of Earnings Factors Order 2021
• 8 March 2021 – The Social Security Contributions (Disregarded Payments) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021
• 8 March 2021 – The Statutory Sick Pay (Coronavirus) (Funding of Employers Liabilities) (Cessation) Regulations 2021
• 15 March 2021 – Social Security Up-rating Regulations 2021
• 15 March 2021 – The Social Security Contributions (Intermediaries) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2021
• 16 March 2021 – The Universal Credit (Extension of Coronavirus Measures) Regulations 2021
• 29 March 2021 – The Financial Guidance and Claims Act 2018 (Commencement No.7) (Dissolution of the Consumer Financial Education Body) Regulations 2020
• 8 April 2021 – The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

74. Copies of SIs can be downloaded from legislation.gov.uk.

What’s new on our HB pages on GOV.UK

75. The following items can be found on the website link shown:

Document type	Subject	Link
LAWD3/2021	Editorial Notification of when there is a change in Universal Credit standard allowance Transition element payments in UC where the claimant was in receipt of Severe Disability Premium £20 per week uplift to UC Standard Allowance extended by 6 months Spring Budget measure: Repayment of new UC Advances and the move to 25% debt deduction cap Coronavirus Support Scheme: Working households receiving Tax Credits Shared accommodation rate National Fraud Initiative 2020 to 2021 HB Award Accuracy Initiative 2021 to 2022 HB subsidy withholdings Housing Benefit Debt Service timetable 2021 to 2022 Third Party Deductions: Confirmation of contact information for LAs Automated applications for TPDs through Employment Support Allowance payments Update: Breathing Space Invitation to the next Data sharing and IT consultation and engagement forum Publication of refresh HB Assurance Process modules Advance notice: Discretionary Housing Payments 2020 to 2021 final claim form Removal of LA addresses from the DWP courier service European Union Settlement Scheme Kickstart Scheme LA Welfare Steering Group and Practitioners’ Operational Group HB Decisions with the Upper Tribunal New Legislation What’s new on our HB pages on GOV.UK Housing Benefit Award Accuracy Initiative: Frequently asked questions (V1) attached as a separate Appendix A	LAWD3/2021
Circular HB A4/2021	Introduction Background Changes to UC regulations Entitlement to UC Claims for HB Entitlement to HB Separation or Bereavement New Income Disregard in HB Entitlement to HB during first UC assessment UC claimant approaching State Pension age	Circular HB A4/2021
Circular HB A5/2021	Introduction Background High Court decision Court of Appeal decision Staying lookalike cases Appeals Difficult cases Applications for HB from 1 January 2021	Circular HB A5/2021
Circular HB S1/2021	Introduction Background Distribution Methodology Payment of administration subsidy LA allocations – England - Annex A LA allocations – Scotland - Annex B LA allocations – Wales - Annex C	Circular HB S1/2021
Circular HB S2/2021	Introduction Background Funding and payment details Allocation of additional funding - Annex A	Circular HB S2/2021
Circular HB S3/2021	Introduction RRSL Scheme in England RRSL Scheme in Wales Amendment to the Subsidy Order Specified amounts and guideline rent increases 2021 to 2022 - Wales - Annex A	Circular HB S3/2021
Circular HB S4/2021	Introduction Background Rural Funding Overall reduction in funding Errors in 2020 to 2021 allocations Allocations of reserved £40 million based on caseload data 2021 to 2022 £100 million government contribution LA allocations - Annex 1	Circular HB S4/2021

Annex A: LA debt referral tranches

LAs have been allocated to tranches as shown in the table:

Tranche 1 – can use the Debt Management Contact Centre from 11 May 2021
Aberdeen City Council
Adur Council
Amber Valley Council
Barnsley Council
Barrow Council
Basildon Council
Basingstoke Council
Birmingham City Council
Blaenau Gwent Council
Bournemouth Council
Bradford Council
Braintree Council
Brentwood Council
Broxbourne Council
Bury Council
Carlisle City Council
Cheshire East Council
Chichester Council
Christchurch Council
City of Lincoln Council
City of London Council
City of York Council
Clackmannashire Council
Commairle Nan Eilean Sian
Cyngor Gwynedd Council
Denbighshire Council
Doncaster Council
Durham Council
East Dunbartonshire Council
East Hertfordshire Council
Eastleigh Council
Epping Forest Council
Fife Council
Gateshead Council
Gloucester City Council
Great Yarmouth Council
Hart Council
Havant Council
Hinckley and Bosworth Council
Isle of Anglesey Council
Isle of Wight Council
Isles of Scilly Council
Kirklees Council
Lancaster City Council
Leicester City Council
Lichfield Council
Liverpool City Council
London Borough of Barnet Council
London Borough of Croydon Council
London Borough of Enfield Council
London Borough of Haringey Council
London Borough of Harrow Council
London Borough of Islington Council
London Borough of Sutton Council
Midlothian Council
Milton Keynes Council
Monmouthshire Council
New Forest Council
Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council
North West Leicestershire Council
Oldham Council
Pembrokeshire Council
Poole Council
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council
Reading Council
Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames Council
Rutland Council
Salford City Council
Sandwell Council
Scottish Borders Council
Selby Council
Sevenoaks Council
Shropshire Council
South Oxfordshire Council
South Ribble Council
South Somerset Council
South Staffordshire Council
Stafford Council
Stockton On Tees Council
Sunderland City Council
Tamworth Council
Telford and Wrekin Council
Thanet Council
Thurrock Council
Tonbridge and Malling Council
Torbay Council
Trafford Council
Vale of Glamorgan Council
Watford Council
Waverley Council
West Lothian Council
West Oxfordshire Council
Wirral Council
Wychavon Council

Tranche 2 – can use the Debt Management Contact Centre from 11 May 2021
Ashford Council
Babergh Council
Bassetlaw Council
Blackpool Council
Boston Council
Bracknell Forest Council
Breckland Council
Bristol City Council
Broadland Council
Broxtowe Council
Calderdale Council
Cannock Chase Council
Chorley Council
Conwy Council
Copeland Council
Cornwall Council
Cotswold Council
Crawley Council
Dacorum Council
Daventry Council
Derbyshire Dales Council
Dumfries and Galloway Council
East Hampshire Council
East Renfrewshire Council
Eastbourne Council
Fareham Council
Fenland Council
Forest Heath Council
High Peak Council
Hyndburn Council
Kings Lynn West Norfolk Council
Lewes Council
London Borough of Bromley Council
London Borough of Camden Council
London Borough of Havering Council
London Borough of Hillingdon Council
London Borough of Southwark Council
London Borough of Waltham Forest Council
London Borough of Hounslow Council
Manchester City Council
Mendip Council
Mole Valley Council
Moray Council
Ne Lincolnshire Council
Newport City Council
North Hertfordshire Council
North Somerset Council
North Warwickshire Council
Northampton Council
Norwich City Council
Nottingham City Council
Oadby and Wigston Council
Peterborough City Council
Plymouth City Council
Redcar and Cleveland Council
Redditch Council
Richmondshire Council
Rossendale Council
Rother Council
Rushmoor Council
Sedgemoor Council
Slough Council
Solihull Council
South Ayrshire Council
South Cambridgeshire Council
South Kesteven Council
South Lanarkshire Council
South Norfolk Council
South Tyneside Council
Southampton City Council
St Edmondsbury Council
Staffordshire Moorlands Council
Stevenage Council
Sth Gloucestershire Council
Suffolk Coastal Council
Tandridge Council
Taunton Deane Council
Teignbridge Council
Test Valley Council
Tewkesbury Council
The Highland Council
Wakefield Council
Warrington Council
Waveney Council
Wealden Council
Welwyn Hatfield Council
West Berkshire Council
West Devon Council
West Dunbartonshire Council
West Lindsey Council
West Somerset Council
Westminster City Council
Wiltshire Council
Woking Council
Worthing Council

Tranche 3 – can use the Debt Management Contact Centre from 25 May 2021
Argyll and Bute Council
Ashfield Council
Aylesbury Vale Council
Bath and North East Somerset Council
Blaby Council
Bolsover Council
Bridgend Council
Cambridge City Council
Canterbury City Council
Cardiff Council
Carmarthenshire Council
Castle Point Council
Ceredigion Council
Chesterfield Council
Chiltern Council
City of Dundee Council
City of Edinburgh Council
Colchester Council
Coventry City Council
Craven Council
Dover Council
East Cambridgeshire Council
East Devon Council
East Northamptonshire Council
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Eden Council
Exeter City Council
Fylde Council
Gedling Council
Glasgow City Council
Gosport Council
Gravesham Council
Harlow Council
Hartlepool Council
Hastings Council
Herefordshire Council
Hertsmere Council
Huntingdonshire Council
Inverclyde Council
Ipswich Council
Kingston Upon Hull Council
Leeds City Council
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council
London Borough of Ealing Council
London Borough of Hackney Council
London Borough of Merton Council
London Borough of Newham Council
London Borough of Redbridge Council
London Borough of Richmond Council
Luton Council
Malvern Hills Council
Mansfield Council
Merthyr Tydfil Council
Mid Devon Council
Mid Suffolk Council
Mid Sussex Council
Neath Port Talbot Council
Newcastle City Council
North Ayrshire Council
North East Derbyshire Council
North Norfolk Council
Northumberland Council
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Tranche 4 – can use the Debt Management Contact Centre from 25 May 2021
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