Social Fund
Mr. Bradley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 25 March, Official Report, column 433, if he will list the reasons for refusal of the eight applicants who were not eligible for a social fund grant. [23845]
2 Apr 1996 : Column: 224
Mr. Roger Evans:
The administration of the social fund is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ursula Brennan to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 1 April 1996:
As Peter Mathison is on leave at the moment, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking pursuant to his Answer of 25th March, Official Report, column 433, if he will list the reasons for refusal of the eight applicants who were not eligible for a social fund grant.
Following Mr. Mathison's letter of 22 March 1996, I am now advised that one of the applicants was in fact awarded a Community Care Grant following their application. I apologise for this mistake.
The reason for refusal of the other seven applicants was that, in the opinion of the Social Fund Officer and based upon the individual circumstances pertaining to each application, Direction 4 (a) (i), (ii) and (iii) was not satisfied.
It may be helpful if I provide a explanation of the Direction which states:-
A Social Fund payment may be awarded to promote community care--
(a) by assisting an applicant with expenses, including expenses of travel within the United Kingdom (except those excluded by these directions) where such assistance will--
(i) help the applicant, a member of his family, or other person for whom the applicant (or a member of his family) will be providing care, to re-establish himself in the community following a stay in institutional or residential care; or
(ii) help the applicant, a member of his family or other person for whom the applicant (or a member of his family) will be providing care, to remain in the community rather than enter institutional or residential care; or
(iii) ease exceptional pressures on the applicant and his family.
Since the original decisions were made, one of the seven other applicants has requested a review of the decision not to award a Community Care Grant. A Social Fund Review Officer has reconsidered the original decision in the light of new information and has replaced the Budgeting Loan with a Community Care Grant award.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
