§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what benefit penalties can be applied to unemployed claimants who are found not to be actively seeking work; what procedures are followed before those penalties are applied; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Mr. A. Wylie to Ms Clare Short, dated 12 March 1993:
As I am responsible for Social Security operational matters 48W your recent Parliamentary Question on the benefit penalties applied to unemployed claimants who are found not to be actively seeking work and the procedures which are followed before the penalties are applied has been passed to me for reply.The position on penalties is that if an unemployed claimant is found not to be actively seeking work, any Unemployment Benefit or Income Support that is in payment can be withdrawn for the period in question up to a maximum of two weeks.The procedures operated before the penalty is applied are that, at the initial claim stage, unemployed claimants are fully advised about the actively seeking work conditions and that failure to meet them could result in the withdrawal of benefits. If, subsequently, the Adjudication Officer decides that sufficient efforts have not been made to find work then the Unemployment Benefit and any Income Support in payment are withdrawn.However, in some cases where the claimant's job search has been considered inadequate but the person genuinely did not understand what was required, a warning letter would be issued and an interview arranged to ensure that the person was taking adequate steps to seek employment.I hope you find this information helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report and copies will be placed in the Library.