Frequently asked questions about the NFI
What is the National Fraud Initiative? The Audit Commission has run the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) since 1996. It is a data matching exercise which matches electronic data within and between participating bodies to prevent and detect fraud.
What is the Audit Commission? An independent body responsible for ensuring public money is spent economically, efficiently and effectively. Its work covers local government, health, housing, community safety and fire and rescue services. As an independent auditor, it ensures public services are good value for money and that public money is properly spent.
What Information is being provided as part of NFI? We will provide the title, initial, surname, address, postcode, date of birth, tenancy start date, and housing benefit reference of the main resident only.
Can I refuse for you to provide these details on my behalf? No. SBHA has agreed to take part.
Will information be provided about all SBHA residents? Initially we will send details of residents in our permanent housing. Leaseholders and residents in temporary or supported accommodation are not included. We will send a new notification if other residents are included at a later day.
Who will receive the information? Only the Audit Commission.
How will the information be sent? We will send the information by the secure direct link to the Audit Commission. The Audit Commission have security processes to ensure information remains secure.
How will the information be used? The Audit Commission will ‘match’ the data we provide with data they already hold from other participating organisations. By matching the data the Audit Commission can be satisfied that public funds and resources are being used appropriately.
How do I know that my information will not be used for any other purposes? The data matching exercise is being conducted by the Audit Commission. Your data will only be used this once for the purposes of this exercise. We will notify you separately if we require to use any data we hold for any other purposes.
Who else is participating? Participants include local authorities, central Government departments, housing associations, housing benefit offices and pensions authorities.
How do I update my details on the SBHA system? Contact your neighbourhood officer, income officer or customer services officer.
What happens after the matching exercise?The Audit Commission will send SBHA a list of ‘mis-matches’. The list will not tell us how the data was mismatched, or with whom. SBHA will then analyse this and decide what, if any, action needs to be taken.
What happens if information appears to be ‘mismatched’? We will not assume any fraud before we have fully investigated. We know, for instance, that some sub-letting is legal and has been authorised by SBHA staff. But it is important that our properties are being used by the people and households for whom they were intended.
We will keep all affected households informed at all stages about what we are doing and why we are doing it. Actions could include home visits, telephone calls, or we may simply need to update the information we hold about you or your household. If we find that our property is not being used legitimately, or for the purpose it was intended, or by a household other than the intended household, we will take appropriate steps to return the property to the use for which it is intended. |