Apex looking to the futureNational Fraud Initiative information sent to all Apex Tenants
This letter has been sent to all our tenants this week, we are also providing this online copy
THIS LETTER IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY – YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE ANY ACTION
Following a recent report by the Northern Ireland Audit Office, organisations who receive public monies are encouraged to take part in a National Fraud Initiative to prevent and detect fraud. Apex is committed to tackling fraud and is taking part in an exercise to promote the proper spending of public money.
Apex is required to protect the public funds we administer. We may share information provided to us with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds in order to prevent and detect fraud.
Apex is participating in an exercise with the Comptroller and Auditor General that the NIHE and other housing associations have been involved in. This will require Apex to submit information in relation to families, couples, single households and sheltered housing tenants. This will be information that enables individuals to be identified accurately. This information will be used in a data matching exercise which involves comparing computer records held by one body against other computer records held by other bodies to see how far they match. This allows potentially fraudulent claims and payments to be identified. It may also identify incorrect payments being made as a result of genuine error. This exercise may indicate inconsistencies that require further investigation. No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until further checks are carried out.
The use of data by the Comptroller and Auditor General in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority. It does not require the consent of individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.
You do not need to respond to this letter. You may be contacted in the future if we need to carry out any follow up checks. However, if you have any further questions regarding this please contact Eilish Doherty, or Jacqueline GIlmore – Apex Housing Managers. Telephone 028 7130 4800
Data Matching by the Comptroller and Auditor General is subject to a Code of Practice which can be viewed by accessing the Northern Ireland Audit Office website at www.niauditoffice.gov.uk and following the links for the National Fraud Initiative.
