§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the total value of benefits paid out under the single payments scheme in the last year for which figures are available;
(2) how many people were in receipt of benefits under the single payments scheme in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Dr. BoysonRecords of single payments are held only in respect of the number and amounts of payments awarded.
In the year ending 13 March 1984, 2,037,279 single payment awards were made, amounting to £158,166,525.
Source: 100 per cent. count of decisions.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what checks are made to ensure that benefits received by claimants under the single payments scheme are used for benefits for the specific purpose for which they are intended.
§ Dr. BoysonSupplementary benefit claimants are generally free to spend their benefits as they wish, though single payments of supplementary benefit for major items are normally paid in the form of a girocheque payable to a supplier of the claimant's choice.
A single payment cannot be made for an item if the claimant has already received a payment for that item and the circumstances have not changed. Instructions to local office staff on these provisions are contained in chapter 7 of the Department's S Manual, a copy of which is in the Library—paragraphs 7046 and 7061–7064 give specific instructions on making single payments and on action to be taken if it appears that the claimant may not spend the single payment properly.