Discretionary housing payments privacy statement

Why we collect information about you

We collect information to assess your claim for a Discretionary Housing Payment. We also use it to check your ongoing entitlement. We may also use your contact details in the event that we need to contact you in relation to your claim.

We use the information in order to administer our Discretionary Housing Payment scheme, in accordance with the Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations 2001.

The information you provide will be used by Cheltenham Borough Council, as the Data Controller under the General Data Protection Regulations and UK Data Protection Legislation, to process your Discretionary Housing Payment claim

What information do we collect about you?

We collect information about:

  • you and your partner (name, address, contact details, NI number, date of birth, income and capital details and all of your outgoings)
  • your/your partner’s eligibility to remain and/or work in the UK
  • your children (date of birth)
  • any other members of your household (date of birth and income / capital details)
  • your rent
  • specific financial / medical / personal issues that may influence the decision regarding your claim
  • Universal Credit
  • Bank account details

Who do we share this information with?

  • Police - From time to time we get requests from the police to for information that will assist them in investigating and preventing crime. We can share your information with the police if the law allows us to.
  • Internal council departments who require access to your information for the purpose of administration, regulation and law enforcement.From time to time we may share your information with other council departments if the law allows us to do so.
  • The council has a legal duty to submit information to the government as part of the National Fraud Initiative (NFI).You can read about the type of information we have to disclose to the NFI on their website
  • HM Revenue & Customs - The council has a statutory duty under schedule 23 of the Finance Act 2011 to submit returns to the HMRC.
  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • We may also share your data with other agencies or organisations where the law allows us to do so and for the prevention and detection of fraud and/or crime. This includes:
    • Other departments within the Council
    • Other local authorities
    • Police
    • Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service
    • Department for Work and Pensions
    • Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs

Is there any information transferred to or stored on servers based outside the EEA?

No.

How long do we keep your information?

We keep information about you for a maximum period of 7 calendar years (6 years + current) from the date you first claimed a Discretionary Housing Payment

Who do we collect information from?

  • you
  • The Department for Work and Pensions – to check your entitlement to any state benefits
  • Your employer – if you give us authorisation to obtain details of your / your partner’s wages from them
  • HMRC – details of your /your partner’s earnings
  • Electoral Registration
  • Credit Reference Agencies
  • Other Local Authorities

What are the consequences if we do not collect the data?

The council will be unable to fulfil its statutory obligations to assess your entitlement to a Discretionary Housing Payment, in accordance with the policy.

Are any decisions about you made by automatic means?

No.