Jobseekers Act 1995

28 Expedited claims for housing benefit and council tax benefit

(1) This section provides for the making of regulations to enable—

(a) information to be passed between authorities, and

(b) priority to be given to certain persons,

with a view to claims for housing or council tax benefit made by or in respect of persons who cease to be entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance or income support being dealt with quickly.

(2) In the Administration Act, insert after section 128—

“Expedited claims for housing and council tax benefit

128A Disclosure of information by authorities

(1) Regulations may make provision requiring the disclosure by one authority (“the disclosing authority”) to another authority (“the receiving authority”), in prescribed circumstances, of information of a prescribed description obtained by the disclosing authority in respect of persons who have been entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance or to income support.

(2) The regulations may in particular provide for—

(a) information to be disclosed—

(i) at the request of the receiving authority;

(ii) at the request of any person who falls within a prescribed category; or

(iii) otherwise than in response to such a request;

(b) the period within which information is to be disclosed; and

(c) information to be disclosed only if it has been obtained by the disclosing authority in the exercise of any of their functions in relation to housing benefit or council tax benefit.”

(3) In section 63 of the Administration Act (adjudication of claims for housing benefit or council tax benefit), insert after subsection (2)—

“(2A) Regulations may make provision requiring authorities to whom claims for housing benefit or council tax benefit are made by, or in respect of, persons who have been entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance or to income support to give priority, in prescribed circumstances, to those claims over other claims for any such benefit.”