Section 139A — Social Security Administration Act 1992: Persons to report on administration

Persons to report on administration 139A 1 The Secretary of State may authorise persons to consider and report to him on the administration by authorities of housing benefit and council tax benefit.

2 The Secretary of State may ask persons authorised under subsection (1) to consider in particular– a authorities’ performance in the prevention and detection of fraud relating to housing benefit and council tax benefit;

b authorities compliance with the requirements of Part I of the Local Government Act 1999 (best value) or the performance requirements set out in section 89 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 . 2A A person may be authorised under subsection (1)– a on such terms and for such period as the Secretary of State thinks fit;

b to act generally or in relation to a specified authority or authorities;

c to report on administration generally or on specified matters.

3 In sections 139B and 139C below— “benefit” means housing benefit or council tax benefit; and “authority” means an authority which is administering either of those benefits.