§ Mr. Ronnie CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether supplementary benefit claims drafted other than on forms produced by his Department can be accepted; and what instructions have been issued to benefit officers concerning the acceptance and processing of such claims.
§ Mr. PortilloClaims for supplementary benefit do not have to be made on forms produced by this Department. However, when a claim is received, a questionnaire asking for precise details of the claimant's financial circumstances must be completed. The relevant instructions to local office staff are contained in the S manual, copies of which are held in the Library.
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§ Mr. Ronnie CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the availability of claim forms produced by his Department for supplementary benefit claimants, and the effects on the administration of his Department's duties.
§ Mr. PortilloThe initial supplementary benefit claim form SB1 is available from local offices of this Department, Crown post offices, most libraries, social services departments and many voluntary organisations. Unemployment benefit offices at present stock a similar form (SB21), but from 11 April they, too, will stock the SB1.
Postal claim forms, which ask for precise details of a claimant's financial circumstances, are available from DHSS local offices only and, in the case of form B1 for unemployed claimants, from unemployment benefit offices.