Resource centre

HB contacts

If you need to contact us, here are the contacts according to subject matter (updated August 2008).

HB discussion/chat room details are also available at the bottom of this page.

Subject area Name Contact details
Main Switchboard (The Adelphi, London) 020 7962 8000
Administration Subsidy Tara Taggart 020 7712 2312
Tara.Taggart@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Backdating Carol Foster-Middleton HB-CTB.CLAIMSANDPAYMENTS@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Benefit Subsidy
General Benefit Subsidy queries
Subsidy for Non HRA rent rebates
Subsidy for backdated claims
Subsidy for discretionary local schemes
Subsidy for LA error overpayments
Benefit subsidy transitional protection
Dave Marley 020 7962 8393
Dave.Marley@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Benefit Subsidy
Rent rebate subsidy limitation
Discretionary Housing
Tara Taggart 020 7712 2312
Tara.Taggart@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Benefit Subsidy
Payments – funding and allocation
Aeon Channer 020 7712 2050
Aeon.Channer@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Policy on powers of inspection and direction of HB services.
Lead on local Government efficiency agenda.
Barry Dennett 020 7712 2223
Barry.Dennett@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Darren Baker 020 7962 8825
Darren.Baker1@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Change of circumstances (Regulations) Jahnara Begum 020 7962 8313
Jahnara.Begum@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Child Support/Maintenance Tony Browne 020 7962 8584
Tony.Browne@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
HB/CTB Bulletins and Circulars – Distribution CDS Orderline 0113 399 4040
orderline@cds.co.uk
HB/CTB Circulars - Backdated copies Tony Oldman 020 7712 2388
Tony.Oldman@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Claim Forms Carol Foster-Middleton HB-CTB.CLAIMSANDPAYMENTS@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Claims and Payments Carol Foster-Middleton HB-CTB.CLAIMSANDPAYMENTS@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Customer Management System (CMS) Brian Brighouse
Sheena Parker
FAQs and contact details are available here.
HBSDMP.WWEG@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
HB/CTB Data Protection Issues Carol Foster-Middleton HB-CTB.CLAIMSANDPAYMENTS@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Decisions and Appeals DMA Leeds DMA-Office-Support-L@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Fax: 0113 232 4841
Discretionary Housing Payments - Policy Dave Jones 020 7962 8313
Dave.Jones@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Employment and Support Allowance and interaction with HB/CTB Christine Watkins Christine.Watkins@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Extended Payments - HB/CTB Phillipa Fallowfield Phillipa.Fallowfield@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Fraud and error policy and procedures Fraud and error policy team fraud-error-policy@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
HB Guidance Manual – Updates Phillipa Fallowfield Phillipa.Fallowfield@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
HB Direct - Content Kath Murphy

020 7962 8540
Kath.Murphy@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
HB Direct - Distribution
CDS Orderline
0113 399 4040
orderline@cds.co.uk
In and out of work pilots Clare Mitton 020 7962 8427
Clare.Mitton@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Income and Capital -including earnings and War Pension local scheme (but not student income/capital)
Self-employed income/earnings
Richard Metcalfe 020 7962 8313
Richard.Metcalfe@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Income/capital - students Jahnara Begum 020 7962 8313
Jahnara.Begum@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Information Exchange with LAs Carol Foster-Middleton HB-CTB.CLAIMSANDPAYMENTS@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
HB Information Flows Programme
(IT links between DWP/Local Authorities)
Programme Manager
Peter Madden 07770 211794
Peter.Madden@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
HB Information Flows Programme
(IT links between DWP/Local Authorities)
Lead on Government Connect; Security
David Wright 0207 9628306
David.Wright@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
HB Information Flows Programme
(IT links between DWP/Local Authorities)
Lead on Provision of Tax
Wayne Norfolk 0113 2519012
Wayne.Norfolk@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
DWP/LAA Steering Group Mont Goldman Mont.Goldman@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
LA/Jobcentre Plus Liaison
(including process changes e.g. SOM V2)
Colin Heward 0121 626 3156
HBSDMP.WWEG@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
LA Performance Team
  • BFI/Audit Commission/Audit Scotland/Wales Audit Office Inspections
  • Reviewing claim processing and fraud/error performance.
  • Local Area Agreements for 2008/9 onwards
Engagement with Local Authorities on Performance issues.
Andy Munro
- Government Office Regions: London, North West, Yorks & Humber.
020 7712 2049
Andy.Munro@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Jane Perfect
- Government Office Regions: North East, East Midlands, South East, South West.
020 7962 8296
Jane.Perfect@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Tony Withers
- Government Office Regions: Scotland, Wales, West Midlands, East England.
020 7712 2326
Tony.Withers@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Local Housing Allowance Richard Metcalfe 020 7962 8313
Richard.Metcalfe@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Local Area Agreements for 2008/9 onwards Andy Munro 020 7712 2049
Andy.Munro@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
MIS Data Collection - Stats 121/122, 124 and WIB1 - Housing Benefit Data Services Information Directorate 0191 2255042
HBDataService@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
MIS Data Collection (100% HBSDIAD scan) Leigh Armstrong
Housing Benefit Data Service Information Directorate
0191 2257035
Leigh.Armstrong@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Membership of the family - HB/CTB Mortgage Interest run on/52 week linking
IS/JSA for housing costs on mortgage interest
Phillipa Fallowfield Phillipa.Fallowfield@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
NFI Graham Dove 020 7712 2128
Graham.Dove@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Non-Dependant Deductions - in IS/JSA/SPC and HB/CTB Phillipa Fallowfield Phillipa.Fallowfield@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
HB/CTB Overpayments Jane Autherson Housing Benefit Strategy Division
Room 3S25 Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds LS2 7UA
Tel: 0113 232 7755
Fax: 0113 232 4177
Jane.Autherson@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Pension Credit and interaction with HB/CTB. Christine Watkins Christine.Watkins@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Performance Development Team Cheryl Weaver 020 7712 2280
Cheryl.Weaver@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Performance Framework Louise Hughes 020 7712 2577
Performance-Framework@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Performance and Good Practice Guide Valerie Hunt 020 7712 22310
Performance-Framework@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Performance Standards Fund Maxine Leyland 020 7962 8765
Maxine.Leyland@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Personal Allowances & Premiums Jahnara Begum 020 7962 8313
Jahnara.Begum@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
People from abroad and asylum seekers Ursula Brennan 020 7962 8358
Ursula.A.Brennan@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Practitioners Operations Group (POG) Sabby Mahal-Riordan 020 7962 8508
Sabby.Riordan@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Quarterly performance monitoring – Claims processing Tony Withers 020 7712 2326
Tony.Withers@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Quarterly performance monitoring – Security Jane Perfect 020 7962 8296
Jane.Perfect@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
HB/CTB Rapid Reclaim Carol Foster-Middleton HB-CTB.CLAIMSANDPAYMENTS@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Rent
Rent liability
Rent officer referral
Rent rules including
old scheme/new scheme
Eligible/ineligible service charges
Dave Jones 020 7962 8313
Dave.Jones@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Royal Mail – Do Not Re-direct James Ablewhite 020 7712 426
James.Ablewhite@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
2nd Adult Rebate Jane Autherson 0113 232 7755
Jane.Autherson@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
HB Sanction for anti-social behaviour Clare Mitton 020 7962 8427
Clare.Mitton@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Students NB: there is no longer an individual contact point for students. Please refer to the nominated contact depending on the nature of your query e.g. for student queries relating to
income, contact the nominated point with responsibility for income
claims information, contact the nominated point for claims and payments
Tax Credits
Temporary Absence (Two homes, prisoners)
Jahnara Begum Jahnara.Begum@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Uprating Phillipa Fallowfield Phillipa.Fallowfield@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

Discussion

Local Authority officers may find it useful to discuss HB/CTB administration with colleagues from other authorities. Although the DWP does not currently host a discussion/chat facility itself, a HB/CTB message board facility is available on the independent HBInfo website.

NB: The DWP is not responsible for the contents or reliability of the message boards and linking to them should not be considered as an endorsement of any kind. We also have no control over the availability of these message boards.