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SOCIAL SECURITY
Benefit Entitlement Awareness
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement on the role of benefit offices in making (a) pensioners and (b) others entitled to benefit aware of their entitlements; [12547]
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- (2) what initiatives he is taking to ensure that pensioners in Wales are made aware of their benefit entitlements; and if he will make a statement. [12545]
Mr. Heald: This is an operational matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Barry Jones, dated 30 January 1997:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking if he will make a statement on the role of benefit offices in making pensioners and others entitled to benefit aware of their entitlements and; what initiatives he is taking to ensure that pensioners in Wales are made aware of their benefit entitlements.
The Benefits Agency (BA) is committed to giving all customers equal access to the benefit system. The BA expects to provide general advice about benefit entitlement, clear and accurate information about all claims which have been made and details of benefits in payment. Staff in BA offices have access to computer and clerical records, enabling provision of a personalised advice and information service.
Home visits can be arranged for customers who have difficulty attending their local office where the matter cannot be cleared by correspondence or over the telephone.
Pensions Direct Helpline was specifically set up to offer a comprehensive service to retirement and widow pensioners who receive payment of benefit direct into their bank and building society accounts. Pensions Direct will also give general advice and information on benefits to all pensioners and will send out claim packs for Income Support where appropriate.
The Benefit Enquiry Line provides free help and advice for sick and disabled people and their care. Specialist braille and textphone services are also offered and there are benefit specific advice services which offer specialist advice for certain customer groups, for example the Family Credit Helpline. In addition, benefit literature and leaflets covering all social security benefits are widely available in BA local offices, post offices and numerous other outlets. Information is also available in booklets and leaflets which are produced in other languages, audio and video tape and in braille.
The BA conducted a national campaign--"Pension and Benefits for Older People" from 13 January to 26 January 1997. This was aimed at information older people and their carers of the benefit help and services that may be available to them. Regional information staff promoted the campaign through appearances in the local media and at community initiatives. This campaign was actively promoted within Wales.
Additionally a media pack was issued to all national radio and TV outlets, and all regional as well as local newspapers. A copy of the specially produced leaflet giving further information is enclosed.
Further copies can be obtained from:-
Pensions and Benefits for Older People
PO Box 28
Leatherhead
Surrey
KT22 7NA
The Benefits Agency in Wales participates in specific events which are aimed to raise awareness of benefit entitlement. Information officers have regularly given talks to pensioner groups on benefit entitlement and have also actively liaised with pensioner organisations. In September 1996, the Agency participated in a "Pensioner Week" by providing information in a live broadcast on S4C TV.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Child Support Agency
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of outstanding cases
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for the Child Support Agency in each year since its inception; what has been the highest number of cases outstanding; and what information he collates on the distribution of cases throughout different areas of the United Kingdom. [12862]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Harry Barnes, dated 30 January 1997:
(34) Estimate.
Mr. Wicks:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances the Child Support Agency varies maintenance awards or arrears to reflect overpayments made by an absent parent when these arise due to the parent with care (a) under-declaring her or his income and (b) in some other way defrauding the benefits system; and what assessment he has made of whether existing arrangements with regard to fraudulent claims might be improved. [13021]
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about cases on hand in the Child Support Agency.
It is not possible to give a complete answer to your question. A breakdown of child maintenance applications on hand in the Child Support Agency Centres (which cover specific geographical areas) is available only for the year ending 31 March 1996 and for the current year to 31 December 1996. An overall total is available for the year ending 1994-95. An estimate is given for 1993-94; this represents the highest number of such cases on hand since the Agency began. As in the previous two years, the Agency is currently on track to reduce the total number of maintenance applications on hand by the end of the year i.e. by 31 March 1997.
The information available is provided in the attached table. The figures represent those applications which have not been fully cleared, either by assessment or for other reasons, and are therefore counted as work on hand. The base data is drawn from scans of the Child Support Computer System which have been enhanced as the Agency's business has evolved. The number of cases on hand at any time must be taken in context with the increasing number of cases that the Agency has dealt with. This has risen form 858,000 at the end of 1993-94 to over 1.8 million at 31 December 1996.
I hope this is helpful.
Child Support Agency centre 1993-94 (as at 31 March 1994) 1994-95 (as at 31 March 1995) 1995-96 (as at 31 March 1996) 1996-97 (as at 31 December 1996)
Dudley n/a n/a 62,908 72,203
Hastings n/a n/a 52,113 58,796
Falkirk n/a n/a 81,314 89,417
Plymouth n/a n/a 60,261 66,234
Birkenhead n/a n/a 69,077 65,865
Belfast n/a n/a 83,986 89,269
Total (34)550,000 425,561 409,659 441,784
Mr. Mitchell: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 30 January 1997:
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I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about maintenance overpaid to the Child Support Agency.
A maintenance assessment will be reviewed and any arrears adjusted where the Agency is notified, or becomes aware, that there has been a change in circumstances or that the original circumstances were not accurately represented by either party involved.
Where a reviewed assessment results in the absent parent having overpaid maintenance, this can be dealt with in one of three ways. It can be used to reduce any arrears, reduce future maintenance payments or in certain exceptional circumstances a lump sum repayment may be made to the absent parent. The appropriate action would depend on the circumstances of the case.
As part of the Closer Working Programme with the Benefits Agency, the Child Support Agency has a number of initiatives in place to help improve the security of benefit payments. In particular a Benefits Agency fraud liaison officer is stationed in each mainland Child Support Agency Centre both to improve fraud awareness and to monitor fraud referrals. Work under this programme continues to explore the interaction between the Agencies, one of the main objectives being to further tighten security on benefits payments.
I hope this is helpful.
War Pensions Agency
Mr. Churchill: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were employed in the War Pensions Agency in (a) 1985, (b) 1990 and (c) 1995 and (d) in the current year; and at what cost at constant prices. [13450]
Mr. Heald: These are matters for Mr. Kevin Caldwell, chief executive of the War Pensions Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
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