Privacy notices - Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction
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Purpose
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction -
Description
We are legally obliged under the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 to process benefits claims. We are governed by one of two sets of regulations. For working age claimants it is governed by the “Housing Benefit Regulations 2006” and for those who have reached the qualifying age for Pension Credit it is governed by the “Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006”.The administration of Housing Benefit, requires us to process personal data about applicants
Special categories of data may be processed to enable us to apply exemptions and other reductions based on that information. -
If you don't give us your information
If you dont provide the information, you wont be able to claim Housing Benefit. You are obliged to keep the Council informed of any changes in circumstances. Failure to do so could affect your benefit and may result in prosecution.
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Conditions for processing personal information
Legal obligation. We are legally obliged to process this data. (A6(1)(c) of GDPR)
Special categories of data in relation to benefit applications are processed under Employment, social security and social protection law (A9(2)(b) of GDPR). -
Your rights
- View personal data
- Change personal data
- Delete personal data
- Restrict processing of personal data
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Who we share your information with
Information is shared with the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP). This data will only be provided where the Council is processing claims on behalf of the customer.
Real time information is shared directly between the DWP and the Council to reduce fraud and error.
We also share this information with HM Revenue & Customs, other council services, and other local authorities. -
How long we hold your information
The retention period is the current year plus 6 years. -
Automated processing
Data is automatically transferred from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) IT systems into our systems. This allows a range of means tested benefits to transfer over and removes complex, manual steps from the process to streamline it. It some situations data from the DWP systems will update claims in our system which will automatically send out a benefit decision notice.
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Data controller
The data controller is The Highland Council
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Data Protection Officer
Data Protection Officer
Highland Council Headquarters
Glenurquhart Road
Inverness
IV3 5NX
01463 702029 -
Supervisory authority
If you are unhappy with the way we have processed your personal information you can contact the Information Commissioner:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 0303 123 1113
https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/