IDG65570 - Local Authorities: Disclosing Child Benefit information to local authorities for the purposes of housing benefit and council tax fraud

We may disclose Child Benefit information to local authorities.

Only Child Benefit Office (CBO) may disclose this information

If a local authority officer asks you for information about Child Benefit, you must pass the request on to CBO. Offices other than CBO are not permitted to disclose this information to local authorities.

Procedure to follow

If the request is about a child considered to be ‘at risk’, send it immediately to CBO Customer Relations Unit (see IDG90100 for contact details, or see IDG65520 for more guidance on this issue).

Local Authorities may ask for information to help in the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Disclosure of customer details may be made in these circumstances but should not be made without the customer’s written consent if the Authority is seeking information for Rent, other Council Tax or Homeless purposes.

Requests for information received from Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit can be released without consent where the request relates to the family unit of our customer. Information about other Child Benefit customers cannot and must not be released without the correct letter of consent (see IDG43000 for more guidance on consent).

Requests must be made in writing.

Information which can be disclosed

CBO may provide DWP and Local Authorities with information from the customer’s account record providing the reason for the request is valid.

CBO also provide witness statements for Child Benefit cases (see IDG42200).

Legislation which allows disclosure

The gateway provided by Schedule 5 Tax Credit Act 2002 allows the disclosure of Child Benefit information

Devolved administrations

This guidance applies to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (NI). NI Local Authorities are known as ‘Housing Executives’.

Further guidance

If you receive a request and are unsure how to proceed, contact CBO Customer Relations Unit see IDG90100.