HC Deb 01 December 1925 vol 188 cc2044-5
75. Sir JOHN SIMON

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, if an applicant delays his appeal against the rejection of his claim for a pension beyond two months, the date of pension, if his appeal is successful, operates from the date of the lodging of his appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal whereas, in cases where the appeal is made within two months of the notification of the rejection of the claim and is successful, the date of the operation of the award is from the date of his original claim; and. if so, whether this information can be given to claimants in the notification of the rejection of the claim?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Lieut.-Colonel Stanley)

The normal practice of ante-dating payment to the date of appeal on the issue of entitlement to pension is subject to the concession referred to by the right hon. and learned Gentleman in the case of appeals made within two months of the rejection of the claim by the Ministry. This concession is, however, a matter of departmental practice only, and the period of two months may in certain cases be exceeded where, from unavoidable cause, it is shown that an appellant could not make his appeal at an earlier date. Every notification of rejection of a claim by the Ministry has for some time past, by my right hon. Friend's instructions, been accompanied by a special intimation to the claimant to the effect that if he desires to appeal it is advisable for him to do so as soon as possible. My right hon. Friend doubts whether he could advisedly add to this intimation, but the right hon. and learned Gentleman's suggestion will be considered.

Sir J. SIMON

In considering this suggestion, will the hon. and gallant Gentleman not consider whether a grave injustice is not done to a man who is told he has twelve months in which to appeal if he is not also plainly told that his position may be better if he appeals within two months than if he waits till the two months have passed?

Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY

That is precisely what I have stated in my answer to the right hon. Gentleman. The right hon. Gentleman's suggestions will be considered.