§ 6. Brigadier Petoasked the Minister of National Insurance what is the correct method of obtaining an emergency payment by pensioners entitled to draw combined old age pensions or supplementary old age pensions where such pensioners are not in possession of their new pension book; and whether he is aware that some pensioners have been 23 weeks without being able to draw a pension.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsIn such circumstances the pensioner should immediately notify the local officer of the Assistance Board who will take the case up with my Department under arrangements which ensure that it will be dealt with as a matter of special urgency. In the meantime, the local post office will usually be prepared to continue temporarily to pay the pension at the rate shown in the old book, and, of course, the Assistance Board can make immediate payments to any old age pensioner who is in need.
§ Brigadier PetoCan the right hon. Gentleman say why exceptions were made in these two types of pension with regard to emergency payments, whereas pensioners drawing other types of pension may draw emergency payments without a pension book while the pension book is being sent to them?
§ Mr. GriffithsThere are now arrangements by which the local post office can pay pensions under emergency arrangements without a new book, on production of the old one.
§ Brigadier PetoThe right hon. Gentleman says that arrangements have been made by which emergency payments may be drawn, but is he aware that I know of cases where pensioners have been unable to draw pensions for 23 weeks?
§ Mr. GriffithsThese arrangements have been in operation all the way through. If there are any cases of that kind of complaint and the hon. and gallant Gentleman will let me know, I will have them looked into at once. These are not new arrangements; they have existed for several months.