§ Mr. Higginsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the maximum delay in a person entitled to child benefit asking for it to be paid direct into a bank account and the necessary arrangements for this to be done to be made.
§ Mr. WhitneyPayment of child benefit by credit transfer is made every four weeks in arrears. The arrangments for a straightforward new claim are such that the first credit should be available within six weeks of a claim being received. When an existing beneficiary asks to change to credit transfer, the change will usually take place after her current order book has expired. A child benefit order book normally covers a 20 week period. Recently there have been delays due to industrial action at Washington child benefit centre.