To ask the Minister for Communities whether he will develop a data sharing agreement between the Housing Executive and the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure that when a change to benefits or pension payment occurs, the client's file is updated to reduce the number of housing benefit payments.

This issue is an operational matter for the Housing Executive, and I have sought the requested information from the Chief Executive, who has advised me that:

“The Housing Executive can confirm that Section 116C and 116D of the Social Security Administration (NI) Act 1992 enables the reciprocal sharing of information between benefit agencies for the purpose of administering their respective benefits, including Housing Benefit.

For Housing Benefit purposes, most benefit entitlement details are updated automatically via the Automatic Transfer to Local Authority Systems (ATLAS). This is a secure platform for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to electronically share benefit information between government agencies for efficient benefit administration. In 2023/24, the Housing Executive’s Housing Benefit Department dealt with 3,538,526 changes notified via the Department for Work and Pensions.

Where benefits are excluded from the ATLAS process, regular reports are run by Housing Executive decision makers to identify Housing Benefit customers in receipt of those benefits. Housing Executive decision makers have approval to access a digital portal used by the DWP, to verify information about individuals' benefit claims.

An obligation however remains with Housing Benefit customers to notify the Housing Executive of changes in circumstances, including changes to income. This duty to notify changes in circumstances is entailed in the Housing Benefit regulations. The customer signs a declaration on their application form to this effect and is reminded of the requirement in all Housing Benefit notifications.”

For any future queries relating to operational matters, you may wish to contact the Northern Ireland Housing Executive directly. Making direct contact with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive will ensure that you receive the information in the shortest possible timeframe and make best use of public resources.