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Guidance

LA Welfare Direct 10/2026

Updated 15 October 2026

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/la-welfare-direct-bulletins-2026/la-welfare-direct-102026

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 colleagues, County Councils and wider if appropriate.

Action

For information.

County Councils

Please note the articles at paragraphs 1 to 10 and 11 to 15 are for your attention.

Editorial

Welcome all to the October edition of the LA Welfare Direct. Hopefully, some of you will have had the chance to catch up with Clare Elliott and Darren Baker at the IRRV (Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation) Annual Conference and Exhibition over the last couple of days. I know they both really value the chance to catch up with so many local authorities and other colleagues!

For those of you involved in the delivery of the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), you should be aware that we recently ran a CRF management information (MI) drop-in session. For those of you that missed it, fear not, we have another scheduled for 7 October 2026. These sessions aren’t mandatory, but hopefully you find them a useful avenue for raising questions, getting support or just a general MI overview for those who are newer to this area of work. These sessions do signal that we’re nearly at interim MI time though, the deadline of 29 October 2026 for returns covering 1 April 2026 to 30 September 2026 is fast looming, which means we’re already six months into the Fund – time flies! 

As always, this edition includes updates and information (and, this time, an invite to the next Data sharing and IT consultation engagement forum). Any thoughts or feedback are welcomed by the Local Authority Partnership, Engagement and Delivery (LA-PED) division’s Communications Team at lawelfare.correspondence@dwp.gov.uk.

Have a great month.

Donna Thompson, Head of Local Authority Grants, LA-PED

Update: DWP’s Public Services Network removal and replacement with an internet-based solution

1. As advised in June’s LA Welfare Direct 6/2026 bulletin, the Searchlight and Verify Earnings and Pensions (VEP) connections that local authorities (LAs) currently access through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Public Services Network (PSN) will be migrated to a new internet-based solution.

Testing phase

2. The testing phase of the new internet-based solution has now been successfully completed. We would like to thank all Early Adopter LAs for their support and participation during this stage of the project.

National rollout

3. On 3 September 2026, DWP commenced the national rollout of the PSN replacement solution for Searchlight.

4. The rollout is being delivered in tranches and DWP will contact each LA when its allocated tranche is due to begin. At that time, guidance, documentation and timelines will be provided outlining the actions your LA will need to complete.

5. Emails have now been issued to the first tranche of LAs to their LA single inboxes for the attention of their Revenues and Benefits managers.

6. Please note that the current rollout focuses solely on the Searchlight connection and communications for the replacement of the VEP connection will be issued shortly.

Next steps for LAs

7. When your LA is contacted by DWP, you will be asked to complete the following actions in preparation for implementing the new internet-based Searchlight solution:

  • complete and return an Internet Facing Solution Connectivity Assurance Assessment
  • complete a data gather Microsoft (MS) form, detailing single points of contact and supplying your public-facing IP address

8. Once this information has been received, DWP will complete the required security assessments and, on completion of these assessments, DWP will contact your LA to move forward with the next stage. This stage will involve further technical activity and assistance from your IT department will be required.

9. If your LA has not yet been contacted, no action is required at this stage.

10. If you have any questions, please contact lawelfare.ladsdeliveryteam@dwp.gov.uk.

Invitation to the next Data sharing and IT consultation and engagement forum

11. The next forum will be held on Tuesday 27 October 2026 from 10am to 11am.

Joining instructions

Joining instructions:

  • the Microsoft Teams (MS Teams) link to this meeting has been shared in the version of the LAWD10/2026 that was sent directly to each LA’s single inbox. Note: It is more difficult to ask questions through dial-in so, if you anticipate having questions, we recommend joining through MS Teams where possible
  • aim to join the event two or three minutes before the start time, as we intend to start promptly

12. Speakers will be muted by default but instructions will be given during the event if you want to ask a question.

Forum agenda

Forum agenda:

  • a 15-minute introduction from DWP, covering projects recently delivered, projects currently in delivery, insight into future planned projects, as well as the most recent common issues that have been reported to us
  • 30 to 45 minutes of questions from LAs on the call about the projects and matters covered in the introduction and any other IT and data sharing questions and issues LAs may have
  • if time allows, 15 minutes focused on suggestions from LAs about future data sharing, data matching or automation projects that DWP could consider funding and delivering

13. The call will be recorded and the recording will be published on Glasscubes.

14. The forum is open to all LAs and it would be beneficial for every LA to have at least one representative dial into the forum to help us maximise feedback. Each LA representative should:

  • seek input and feedback from as many of their colleagues as possible prior to dialling in, for example, questions they might want an answer to
  • have knowledge, at least at a high level, about data sharing, data matching and current IT topic areas
  • feedback to their colleagues about how the conference call went, including the answers to the questions we asked

15. We look forward to your participation on the call. However, if you have any questions in the meantime, please contact paul.selby@dwp.gov.uk.

Pension Credit Week of Action from 12 to 16 October 2026

16. This October, we’re running Pension Credit Week of Action to challenge some of the common misconceptions that stop people claiming Pension Credit. Many people mistakenly believe that owning a home, having savings or receiving a private pension automatically makes them ineligible. It doesn’t.

17. As a result, many people of State Pension age who could be entitled to Pension Credit never make a claim.

18. Here are some of the myths we’re tackling this year.

Myths:

  • own your home? You may still be eligible for Pension Credit. Home ownership is not taken into account when entitlement is calculated
  • have savings? You could still qualify if you have savings. The first £10,000 of savings is ignored. For every £500 of savings above £10,000, DWP assumes you have an extra £1 a week in income when calculating your Pension Credit entitlement
  • receive State Pension? Pension Credit is paid in addition to your State Pension and could provide extra financial support
  • think it happens automatically? Pension Credit is not paid automatically. People need to check their eligibility and make a claim

19. We’re asking stakeholders to help spread these important messages by sharing leaflets that will feature in our TV advert with employees, residents, service users and stakeholders, putting up a poster, sharing posts from the official DWP Facebook channel on social media or creating and sharing your own video content featuring the leaflet.

20. By sharing this information, you could encourage someone to check their eligibility and access support they may otherwise miss out on.

21. To find out more about Pension Credit and how to apply, visit:

22. To request printed A5 leaflets and A4 posters (due to be dispatched the week commencing 5 October 2026), please email chiltonmannion.jobshare@dwp.gov.uk.

Practitioners’ Operational Group and Local Authority Welfare Steering Group

23. The last Local Authority Welfare Steering Group meeting took place on 17 September 2026. Agenda items included Legacy Housing Benefit (HB) discovery, bringing together the administration of pensioner HB and Pension Credit, LA funding update and supported housing.

24. Both groups’ meetings are held bi-monthly (and alternately), so the next Practitioner’s Operational Group meeting is scheduled to take place on 15 October 2026.

25. If you have any questions regarding topics raised at these consultation groups, email lawelfare.correspondence@dwp.gov.uk.

HB Decisions by the Upper Tribunal

26. Decision Making and Appeals (DMA) Leeds is aware of the following HB case that has been decided by the Upper Tribunal (UT):

  • UA-2023-000852-HB: This appeal concerns the Appellant’s entitlement to HB between 25 May 2020 and 7 August 2020. The Appellant is a citizen of the Czech Republic and was lawfully present in the United Kingdom as an EU migrant worker. The judge concluded that the discrimination was not justifiable in this instance

27. You can read all Decisions of the UT on their website. Do be aware that there is an undefined time lapse between decisions being issued and their appearance on the website.

HB cases awaiting decision by the UT

28. DMA Leeds has not been made aware of any case that is awaiting decision by the UT since our previous LA Welfare Direct entry in September 2026.

29. If you have any queries about appeals before the UT Judges or courts, contact us by email at quarryhouse.dmaleedscustomersupportservices@dwp.gov.uk.

New Legislation

30. The following Statutory Instruments (SIs) have been made:

31. Copies of SIs can now be downloaded from legislation.gov.uk.

What’s new on our HB pages on GOV.UK

32. The following Housing Benefit items can be found on the links shown.

LAWD bulletin

LAWD9/2026

Subject of bulletin:

  • Editorial
  • Personal Details Verification Report
  • Absence abroad: Invitation to an all LA call
  • Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023: LA workshops expressions of interest by 16 September 2026
  • Update: Identifying Local Vulnerability
  • Final publication of HB Debt Recoveries statistics for April 2025 to March 2026
  • Secondment opportunities in LA-PED division’s Performance Development Team
  • Pension Awareness Week: 14 to 18 September 2026
  • Practitioners’ Operational Group and LA Welfare Steering Group
  • HB Decisions by the Upper Tribunal
  • New Legislation
  • What’s new on our HB pages on GOV.UK

Adjudication and operations circular

A9/2026

Subject of circular:

  • New earned income disregards in Housing Benefit for Working Age residents in specified accommodation and temporary accommodation
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