Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Discussing your claim with others

The information you provide us is treated confidentially and is protected under The Data Protection Act 1998.

We may pass information we hold about you to other agencies or organisations such as the Department for Work and Pensions and the Inland Revenue, as allowed by law.

We may give information to certain third parties such as, government departments and local authorities to;

• make sure the information is correct
• prevent or detect crime, and
• protect public funds

We will not give information about your claim for benefit to anyone else unless;

• you have asked for your benefit to be paid directly to your landlord
• you have given us written consent to do so, ie to a family member, friend or solicitor
• you have an appointee acting on your behalf

Information which may be given to your landlord

Personal details such as, your income details, your date of birth, details of your family will not be given to your landlord.

If you have asked us to send your payments of Housing Benefit to your landlord we can tell them;

• if you have made a claim for Housing Benefit
• if we are waiting for information from you
• the date your benefit starts and ends
• the weekly amount of your benefit
• the dates and method of paying your benefit
• changes to the amount of your benefit
• if your claim is suspended
• if you ask us to stop paying your benefit to them

There may be information about your claim that we need to check with your landlord, such as the date your tenancy started. If this is the case we have to ask your landlord even if you have not given us permission to discuss your claim with them.