§ Mr. Terry FieldsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what considerations underly the limitation on the gap of up to eight weeks in signing on for payment of transitional relief on benefit; what discretion is available for officers to continue paying transitional relief over a gap of eight weeks; and whether there are any provisions for people held in custody on remand.
§ Miss WiddecombeMost social security benefits protect short breaks in entitlement by the provision of a linking rule which bridges the gap between claims. Eight weeks is the normal period for such bridges. The Income Support (Transitional) Regulations 1987 do not provide adjudication officers with discretion to extend this period, and there are no special provisions for preserving the right to transitional protection for people held in custody on remand.